I Am Loved and You Are Too
The end of the year is a pretty exciting moment for a lot of people: it's the moment to meet again the whole family around a table filled up with great meals, to spend memorable moments with them. It is also the moment to plan New Year's Eve with your friends. At least, this is what my end of the year usually looks like ! Where I come from, we could define Christmas dinners like the family fashion contest of the year! We also rejoice for how great has been the year, for every battle we fought, and won 😉, for these new friendships. To make a long story short, let's just say that uniting around the table is the moment to celebrate the end of the year we've been through.
New Year's Eve is also really nice. With your family and your friends, you celebrate new beginnings, new projects, and you learn from the past year's experience. You have new resolutions and really want to keep 'til the end of that same year.
But, after these celebrations, at the end of a year and at the beginning of a new one, the daily routine often comes back. We appreciate these moments, even though in themselves, they are just a parenthesis, once in the year. Maybe you live with your family, maybe you're alone, maybe with some friends. But in any of these situations, it turns out that nobody can give us the love we need, when we need it. Even surrounded by people, you can feel you're lonely, you may think nobody can understand your pain, nor the situation you're facing. And even if they do, they can't help you be in peace with it.
This is how I was living, what I was feeling. However, I learned a few years ago that I AM LOVED! With an unconditional love, which basically means that no matter what happens, what I could or couldn't do and who I was, I am loved. And you know what ? The One who loves me so much, loves you too as you were His only child, as no one else existed. His name is God, His power has no limit and He is eternal.
Indeed, the Bible says "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, NIV). You may wonder what Christ's (Jesus') death has to do with anybody's love for you, so give me one more minute 😊:
Here is the thing: God, who is perfect and Holy, created the world, the universe. He created humans beings and gave them to be in a direct relationship with Him and free will. However, they fell from the ideal God wanted for them and at the same time broke this very special relationship with Him.
It's like when you were younger and went to the park, walking and playing in the mud with your friends and then went back home with your dirty shoes. This was the moment one of your parents would tell you "Hey honey! Take off your shoes and go to shower" because you're gonna get the whole house dirty! Your sin (the fact that you disobey God, live far from him) is like the mud on your shoes and clothes you bring into your parent's cleaned up house. The biggest difference is that God is and will always be Holy. You can't have room for holiness and sin in your life. We'll go deeper into it an other time, but for now, just remember that your sin separates you from God.
The Law He established is that blood has to run to purify you. Jesus Christ, God's only Son, died for us 2000 years ago. This only sacrifice, if you accept it in your life, can give you peace, love, joy, so no matter the circumstances!
This is now the moment of the greatest decision of your life, if you haven't made it yet. You can, or not, accept God's love in your life, His sacrifice, and choose to live a life that will honor Him.
Between you and I: I did it, in 2013 and never regretted it. A lot of people I know, and more that I don't know, could tell you the same thing. I'm not saying it is easy, I'm just saying that living for and with God will help you everyday of your life, in any struggle, any situation. And you won't regret it! The darkest days will be followed with brightest ones.
If you want to accept Jesus in your life, you can simply, from the deepest of your heart, pray this prayer, or one in your own words :
"God, I recognize I am nothing without You. I recognize You are Holy, perfect and I need Your love, I want a new relationship with You, I want to live for You. I realize that Jesus' blood ran for me. I am sorry for my sins, please God come and live in me. I want to honor you, so come and have your way in me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen"
So, what now ? What can you do ? If you prayed this prayer sincerely, realizing that God loves you and accepting His forgiveness, you can be completely certain that He forgave you. You will have to know Him more and more, to become more like Him. So, I kindly invite you to read the Bible, which is the best way to get to know God and talk to Him every day, with what you can learn from it. Aspire to become more like Him, and He will transform you. Believe me, His love will never fail, and even though the journey can be complicated, you will not regret it.
Remember : God loves you like a father, and He doesn't want you to live anything that will not glorify Him.
See you soon,
Do 😃
P.S: take a moment to listen to this song if you will 😉