Just As You Are
Come to God Just As You Are
By Rick Warren
“God showed his great love for us
by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8 NLT).
Everything that Jesus
did for you, he did out of love.
The Bible says that
God made you to love you. The only reason you’re alive is because you were made
to be loved by God.
If God didn’t want
you alive, your heart would stop instantly; you wouldn’t even be breathing
right now.
God made you and
wants you alive so he can love you and so you can love him back.
God didn’t just say
he loved you; he showed it.
The Bible says, “God showed his great love for us by
sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8 NLT).
It says while we
were still sinners. Before I even knew God or knew I needed God in my life,
Jesus died for me.
There’s a myth that says we have to clean up our act before
we can come to God: “I’ve got to get it
all together. There are a few things I’ve got to get right in my life first,
and then I’ll come to God.”
No! You come to God
with your problems - the good, the bad, and the ugly.
It’s like when we
brush our teeth before we go to the dentist to have a teeth cleaning or when we
wash the dishes before we put them in the dishwasher.
Why do we do this?
God says, “No, no! You don’t
have to clean up your act. Just bring it all to me. Bring me all your problems.
I have all the answers. Come as you are.”
The Bible says, “He will send down help from heaven to
save me because of his love” (Psalm 57:3a TLB).
That’s what Jesus did
on Easter. He sent himself from Heaven to save us because of his love.
So, you can bring
your problems to God, because He has the answer.
If you don’t act on
this news, then the death of Jesus Christ and his Resurrection are wasted for
you personally.
It makes no
difference in your life. You may recognize the gift, but you still have to
receive it.
“You will be saved, if you honestly
say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and if you believe with all your heart that God raised
him from death. God will accept you and save you, if you truly believe this and
tell it to others” (Romans 10:9-10 CEV).
God is not asking you
to make a promise you cannot keep. God is asking you to believe a promise that
only He can keep.
Talk It Over
· What do you need to let go of that you’ve been
trying to clean up before you can approach God?
· How does your life reflect the extravagant love God
has for you and that you have accepted?
About Rick Warren
Rick Warren is an innovative pastor, renowned author, and
global influencer. The various ministries Pastor Rick has created are a
multi-faceted expression of his heart to bring the whole gospel to the whole
world.
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