WHO SAID IT ANYWAY

We live in a culture that pushes independence and the "right" to do whatever your heart so wishes. From the media to our closest friends, advice is being crammed into our heads and that makes the choice to make right decisions that much harder. JAY-Z even went as far as to have his "Doctrine" put on shirts "do as thou wilt". Now you see a guy who seemingly has everything, push a belief system very subtle and without knowing we are literally "using our freedom as an excuse to sin" Galatians 5:13. Not giving in to this can be extremely hard, especially sense the momentum is on the side where people actually agree with living life any type of way. We have our friends telling us in relationships to "try it before you buy it". We have music telling us that the main objective in life is to stack paper and splurge and repeat the cycle lol. Then on the other hand, we have pastors telling us that our lives are not our own but given to glorify the Father. Now with all these things bombarding us, our ability to discern the truth dwindles and we naturally do what "feels" right. Now , the bible teaches us that" our hearts are desperately wicked and deceitful who can really know it"Jeremiah 17:9. So this is saying that are hearts and what we deem as correct actually leads us to more bondage. We have become the captains of our own lives and we see this played out in everyone's life. We think we want a particular spouse then a month later it changes, we think we have our dream car then one comes out more official and it changes. We are not sure about anything in our culture, we are pushed back and forth double-minded never really sure. So this begs the question "if we are never satisfied in our pursuits and are hearts are mostly wrong then whats the remedy?" First, all throughout history we see a continual pattern of people who chase riches,fame and "excitement but come to the end of their lives seemingly lost. Thats because they have been listening to the wrong info. Their information made them feel good but left them with huge voids. The answer, the remedy, the key is found in the person of Jesus Christ. He pushed a different standard for living for our good and his glory. Its not selfish gain or worldly pursuits, but we were wired and created for much more than serving ourselves. It was built for fellowship with God, the creator and sustainer of the world; who knows are hearts and has crafted us to be filled and satisfied in him. The worlds way looks and feels fun, but it leads to death, the freedom many believe they are walking in is actually bondage cause they can't get out of living a particular way. Christ brought freedom to all who would repent and turn to him in humility not necessarily for a better life but a life with purpose built on the eternal God

The Gospel is wrapped up in one name JESUS!!.Since the great fall ,when Adam and Eve rebelled against God, God put together a wonderful, failproof plan to rescue us from our fallen nature. All throughout the Old Testament, a foreshadowing of this Person Jesus was brought to the forefront a picture of a perfect, spotless lamb who would become a curse on our behalf and given us his innocence.
      Galatians 3:13 says  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.
This great news should lead all of us to reverent, worship and fear of such a loving God who redeemed us and purchased us with his perfect blood. However, we have though knowing of this extended love we rebel, and choose our own way.
       All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
    no one does good,
    not even one.”

 We have replaced the Living God with "false saviors"..whether its a new job, a new relationship,money, we have placed these before God and find temporary pleasure and satisfaction in these things. The GOSPEL WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST, the creator and only eternal satisfaction, died a death we deserved and lived a life we could never live. His death would bridge the gap that was between us and God because of Sin and allows us to be restored to unbroken fellowship.
        God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
This should bring us great joy, that through this unmerited gift of salvation, we no longer have to strive,and try to earn salvation. We have received Christ righteousness and are made whole in him. God being our loving DADDY doesnt require us to fight for his love but he freely extended this gift through the perfection of his Som. We can now live our lives in freedom, and no longer bondage to sin,hurt and regret. We have access to our FATHER not so we can get whatever we want but to reflect his Glory on the earth to all men. As John Piper states "God is most satisfied in us, when we are most satisfied in him".
Live your life knowing of this gift and find your joy in HIM who is beautiful and merciful, we have been adopted and we are his children.