You know that thing you’re longing for but you just can’t seem to put your finger on it? You know that freedom you’re seeking for but you just can’t seem to find it? Even when you’re looking for God, it feels like people of faith just condemn you. You know that relationship you’re seeking after? That sense of peace, fulfillment and joy? You’re looking for a person. You aren’t looking for an idea. Ideas don’t change people. People change people. The only person who has the power to change you completely, and give you all of these things is Jesus.

Who is Jesus?

Jesus of Nazareth. Even though He was eternally God, He became a man, just like you and me. He stepped right into this world. Experiencing pain and suffering just like all of us. You may think to yourself, “what does a guy that lived 2,000 years ago have to do with me?” He didn’t just come to give us a new set of ideas. He came to reveal the Father. You know, when Jesus died, He died as you. All of the pain you experience, all of the shame, and guilt, He said “I’ll carry it. Give it to me.” Why the heck would someone do that? He sounds insane. Because surely, there are more people who reject Jesus than except Him.

You know what’s interesting about love? Real, true love isn’t asking for anything from you. When you love someone truly, you would do anything for them. But, even our love growing up, wasn’t real love. As soon as the person we loved left us, or treated us poorly, we were crushed. God isn’t crushed by us, He’s crushed for us. “Love doesn’t seek its own.” You see, we don’t love each other, we need each other. But God demonstrated His love for us, that while we didn’t care, while we had no idea, while we were living in pain, hatred and darkness, Jesus died for us. Jesus died to give the Father His children.

Why me?

You may say, “I believe God loves everyone but there’s no way He could love me.” God doesn’t love you because of what you do. This is what makes His love so utterly different than the love that we as humans give. Ours is based on performance. (If you do this, than you’re love-able) God’s love is based on original created value. He made you in His own image. He knows what He made you for. You are His creation, His child, and He loves you for you. Not for what you do. If that wasn’t enough, He took His perfect Son, and nailed Him to a cross.

“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53:10-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God was pleased to give His Son for our sins and our darkness. You are not defined by your past. God’s love is so powerful, it changes who you are. I used to be addicted to pornography. I used to be that lazy, gamer, addicted to pornography. I would say I didn’t swear, but I swore all the time. I was a hypocrite, going to church on Sunday, living whatever way I wanted during the week. I would think “I’m not that bad, I don’t drink or smoke, or party or do drugs. I’m fine.” But when God’s love really came to me, I saw how utterly evil I had been living. I was heading to Hell just like the rest of the world. I was just as much deserving of death as the person who killed and raped children.

The amazing thing about the love of God is, even though He doesn’t condemn us for sin, He won’t leave us in it. There is a way out! He has provided the answer through His Son. You see, it’s not an idea, it’s a person. Jesus wants your life, and trust me, He’s way better at taking care of it than you are. He doesn’t want much, He just wants everything.

That day three years ago I surrendered my everything to Jesus. I gave up. I said “you can have my life Jesus, do whatever you want.” Immediately I was changed. Swearing stopped right away, pornography was gone. God set me on fire. Since then I have seen people literally healed of physically pain and diseases, freed from demons and saved and baptized in water and the Holy Spirit. This is the life you were made for! This is so exciting, and I am so happy to be hidden in Christ.

Jesus and the devil want to kill you, but for two different reasons. Who will you give your life to? The fence belongs to the devil. It’s up to you.

Jesus loves you and so do I.