BELIEVE ME?

Hello, again!

In Galatians 1:11-12, Paul is emphatic! He's saying,"Believe me!" because the church in Galatia was listening and believing a "gospel" other than the truth, and Paul was indignant. He told them, "I didn't receive this news through the traditions, and I wasn't taught it in some school. I got it straight from God, received the message directly from Jesus Christ." (The Message) So, believe me!

It got me to wondering--are my words to the great outside believed? Are they worth believing? I, personally, followed no traditions. I wasn't taught these beliefs in school. I rarely went to Sunday School as a child to my regret. I wasn't churched as a youngster. I had three children before I came to know the truth about Jesus, that He died so the world would have a way to be reconciled to God. I have no scars like Jesus does to prove I know the truth. I have nothing to make anyone listen to anything I say.

Nothing but a changed heart, and along with it a passion. Here I am, the one who was faithless in believing that Jesus had power for me, for my life. I clung to my own belief--myself--for a long time. And repeatedly found myself in a streak of losses toward my goal of "being a good person." Then, Jesus beat me at my own game! I came to realize I wasn't ever going to be good in my own right, and that's one reason why Jesus came to this earth, why He died on the cross. Then, I tripped on my own pride so badly one day that I realized I needed Him, and His goodness.

So here we are, Jesus and me! He's the good guy; I'm His shadow, and sometimes His hands and feet, and I hope, His mouth.

And that's when I came to another truth--Because he's in my heart, and I in His, I could, at last, be considered good. Everything He has is for my use, even His goodness! And that's the truth! I hope you believe me!!

See you soon! jo