(6)“Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful.”
(8)”But God showed how much He loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.” (CEV)
After reading these verses, the Lord dropped three words into my mind:
Helpless. Hopeless. Homeless.
Without these three things, you’re in a desperate and dire situation. If you’ve ever been here, you know what I’m talking about.
Here’s what the Lord revealed to me this morning:
“When we are without Jesus in our lives, we are the most Helpless, the most Hopeless and the most Homeless.”
HELPLESS
When you’re helpless, you’re unable to help yourself. You’re weak, dependent, powerless and incapacitated.
Jesus said, “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to Me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without Me.” — John 15:5 (CEV)
Without being joined to Jesus, “You Cannot Do Anything!.”
To accomplish anything of real worth, while on this earth, we need to be attached, connected, in relationship with Jesus.
HOPELESS
When you’re hopeless you’re unable to provide yourself any hope. You’re desperate. You’re despairing. It’s impossible to accomplish anything. You’re not able to perform. You’re inadequate. You’re defeated.
The Apostle Paul said, “In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.” — Ephesians 2:12 (NLT)
Paul reminded this church of the fact that when they were separated from Jesus, they were without hope. He said, “You lived in this world without God and without hope.”
We have the most hope, and are the most hope-filled, and the most hopeful, when we are in a relationship with Jesus!
The Psalmist said, “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God,” — Psalms 146:5 (NKJV)
Who are you Hoping in today?
HOMELESS
Have you ever been homeless?
To be homeless is to be without a home. The homeless are the people who lack permanent housing, or a permanent place to rest, relax and reside.
In so many words, the Apostle Peter told us that while on this earth we were homeless.
“Dear friends, you are foreigners and strangers on this earth…” — 1 Peter 2:11 (CEV)
A hymn-writer of the past wrote, “This world is not my home, I’m only passing through. My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore”
For a believer in Jesus, heaven is our home. This old world is simply a stopping off place until Father God is ready to call us on home.
Without Jesus, we are most Homeless!
We don’t belong here on earth, and we know that this old world will someday come to an end. We also know that without Jesus, we don’t have any hope of a future home in heaven.
‼️ Our HELP, Our HOPE and Our HOME is found in JESUS ‼️
I beg of you to invite Jesus to be the Lord of your life right now?
Sincerely,
— Pastor H. Gene Allen, Lead Pastor FamilyChurchAG.com
“Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time He said, “I am the light for the world! Follow Me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.”” (CEV)
✝️ “I am the light for the world!”
During this time, when Jesus was teaching those who were following Him, the Israelites were celebrating The Feast of Tabernacles. By this time in the day, it’s probably evening. In the midst of great burning lights, which brightened up all the area which they were celebrating in, Jesus stepped out and proclaimed that He was The Light of the World!
This world is in, or represents darkness, a symbol of evil, sin, and ignorance toward God (John 3:19). “Light” in the Bible is a symbol of God and His holiness (John 1:5).
Jesus is “The Light,” not merely a light, or another light among many lights. He is the only Light, “The True Light” (John 1:9), the Light for the whole world.
✝️ “Follow Me, and you won’t be walking in the dark.”
When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” He was speaking to those who would sincerely believe, obey and follow Him.
When He said, “you won’t be walking in the dark,” Jesus was speaking of His followers receiving True Salvation, and receiving True Light.
Coming to Christ for salvation results in a different kind of life. It’s a saved life; a holy life. As a sincere believer of Jesus, we will never walk in darkness, nor will we live in darkness (John 12:46; 1 John 1:6–7) unless we chose to walk away from the Light.
✝️ “You will have the light that gives life.”
Again, a believer of Jesus, will no longer be in darkness and will no longer remain in the realm of evil and ignorance, because Jesus is our Light and Salvation.
❇️ Jesus will only lead us in the way of True Light and Abundant Life. ❇️
Jesus said, in John 12:46, “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in Me may not remain in darkness.”
‼️ Have You Seen The Light ‼️
Are you walking in the Light of the Lord Jesus❓
You have a Choice.
Will you live in darkness, or Walk in the Light❓
✔️ Come to the Light❗️
✔️ Accept Jesus as Lord of your life❗️
✔️ Dedicate yourself totally to living for Jesus❗️
Sincerely,
— Pastor Gene Allen, Lead Pastor FamilyChurchAG.com
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” (ESV)
• The Bottom Line •
The Apostle Paul is saying here, that, to the ones who love Father God, He works all things together for their good. — The things, and circumstances, themselves, may not all be good; however, Father God harmonizes them all together for the believer’s ultimate good.
Father God’s goal is to bring, every situation and circumstance, to perfection in His presence. God even uses adversities and afflictions to contribute to that end.
• Conclusion •
Things do not always go perfect in our lives; sometimes, because of our own making, and sometimes because of outward circumstances.
Father God loves us so much that He is always, ultimately working for the good of every believer. By His supernatural power, God takes the good, and the bad, and uses them to mold us, and make us, perfect in His sight.
In all things, be faithful to . . .
✝️ Serve God!
✝️ Trust God!
✝️ Know that Father God is always working all things out for the ultimate good in your life!
Was the Word good for you today? It may just be what someone else needs to hear. Go ahead! Share this devotion.
Sincerely,
— Pastor Gene Allen, Lead Pastor FamilyChurchAG.com
Pastor H. Gene Allen 