Believe or Believe

 

May 22, 2011, less than 100 miles north of where I lived, a massive EF5 tornado struck Joplin, Missouri.  A mile wide and lasting on the ground for 38 minutes, it reached wind speeds of over 200 miles an hour and killed 158 people.  It caused over $2.8 billion in damages.

 

I remember standing in my backyard where the weather was eerie.  I could see the backside of the storm that hit Joplin and I had The Weather Channel on in the house.  I watched Weather Channel switch over to live coverage of the immediate aftermath where the reporter started crying.  Even though his job was to report on storms, he could not believe what he was witnessing.

 

Less than 48 hours later, I arrived in Joplin with a van load of teenagers and adults.  We met the pastor of First Baptist Church and jumped in to help.  The first visit we were not allowed into the main area.  They were still searching for people.  But the next week we were let into the most devasted area.  Both times, we could not really believe what we were seeing even though we had seen the images on television.

 

We knew the destruction was real, but we didn’t really believe it.

 

Sometimes, I hear about God’s grace and forgiveness, I think it’s true, but I don’t really think it’s true about me.  In another words, God forgives, but I do not know if He will forgive this one thing that I have done.  I believe God forgives and offers grace and a brand-new life, but I don’t BELIEVE that about me.

 

What God says is true, is true for me too!

 

Pray: “God, thank you that you really love Me and forgive ME and offer grace to ME.” 

 

Grab Your Bible:  Read John 3:16.

 

  “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”

 

This time read it and where the blanks are put your name.  Personalize the verse.

 “For this is how God loved ___________: He gave his one and only Son, so __________ believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ God sent his Son into the world not to judge the ___________, but to save ____________ through him.

 

You do not have to FEEL it, to know it’s true.  God’s Word is true whether it feels like it or not.  Feelings change.  Truth doesn’t.  Lean into God’s truth for you today.

You are completely loved.

You are completed accepted.

You are completely forgiven.

You are completely made brand new.

…if you believe in Jesus.

What God says is true, is true for me too!

 

Prayer:  God, thank you for loving me and forgiving me.