Paul found Jesus on the road to Damascus in an incredible encounter.  Paul had everything—–he was prestigious, educated, powerful, and respected in the Jewish community while enjoying the privilege of being a Roman citizen.  He was going to Damascus with one thing in mind:  To kill or imprison the followers of Jesus Christ.

 

But then something radical happened.  Paul found, AND RECEIVED, Jesus.  From that moment on………Paul made a radical change.  He gave up all that he had and became a radical follower of Jesus.

 

My experience was not the same.  I grew up in the church and I loved Christians and I loved the Christian faith—-I just didn’t always follow it.

 

For those of us who grew up “Christian” but didn’t find Jesus until later, we should take heed of Paul’s God-breathed words to the town of followers he was writing to:

Galatians 3   1You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?

 

How easy it is to fall into Religion.  Many people tell me:  You are Religious.  I always correct them…..I am NOT RELIGIOUS (at least I hope), but a follower of Jesus.

 

This verse should serve as a warning for us all:  many of us do not have a great testimony of sin prior to RECEIVING Him.  And because of that, we can often fall back into who we were before…….Religious Hypocrites.

 

Hypocrite comes from the word:  Stage or Play Actor.  In other words, Jesus called the Pharisees Stage/Play Actors…..Putting on the appearance of virtue or religion.

 

We never would want the world to see us as saved because we act right.  What we want them to see us is humbled before the Lord because we are saved by grace.

 

Our message can’t be about our resume.

It can’t be about our great works for the Lord.

It can’t be about how holy or how virtuous we are.

We must be willing to be vulnerable.

 

I am not sure how else to say it, so here goes:

  • Without Jesus, my life would be a wreck.
    • Without Jesus, my marriage would be in shambles.
    • Without Jesus, my finances would be a disaster; He put them together in a slow process starting in 2007.
  • Without Jesus, I have no chance in heaven.
  • Without Him….we have NOTHING to offer.

 

The prophet Isaiah wrote:

Isaiah 64:6  All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

 

What?

Yes….he means menstrual rags…..OUR GOOD WORKS ARE LIKE FILTHY RAGS TO GOD.

 

Lord have mercy on my soul.  I am Yours….and Yours alone…..without YOU….I am NOTHING!

 

All of us….if we are not constantly seeking His face….are capable of falling back into the corruption that we see each and every day—–and we do it:

When we think we can be holy by following all of the rules.

 

Repent.  Receive Him.  And Remember WHO YOUR DADDY IS!

 

In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

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Coach J