“I Love God Because God Loved Me First”
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Keith says:
In my life I was living like the rest of the world and seeking things of this world trying to obtain things of this world. As a Christian I was trying to be like the world. Then I would go to church and talk to God about my problems, like…”God why don’t you help me and my family? Why don’t you just pay my dad’s bills? Why don’t you just make me a singer?” But God did not respond. There came a day when I realized that what I thought was life here on earth is not really life, and that God wasn’t seeking to please my selfish needs and wants.
I thought to myself and then I said to God, “SAVE ME from what I do not know! God I know that there is nothing good in this world for me and I want you to be my good! My desire! Give me love wisdom and hunger! God I want to know you! Like my father!” Then, during Bible study Romans 10:17 popped out and said to my heart, “Faith Comes through hearing and hearing from the Word of God, then another verse that says We saved by Grace through Faith, which is a gift from God not by works so that no one may boast about it!” I then realized this Faith was impossible for me to find! I could not do this! I could not put my faith in God till I began to seek him! He had to give me that faith!
It reminds me of that story with the rich man where Jesus told him to give everything he had to the poor. But the rich man walked away sad because he couldn’t do it. Then when Jesus explained to the disciples that it would be difficult for a man to make it to heaven…and they said well none of us can make it!
We cannot do everything! We are not perfect! But Jesus said your right for man it is impossible but for me all things are possible! HE was not talking about how for him it is possible to pay your bills or give you a perfect life here on earth! That’s not what he wants to give you. Jesus always said put your treasure in Heaven where a thief will not come and steal it. Where your treasure is your heart will be also! Where is your treasure? In the world? Then that’s also where your heart is.
You see I came to realize, after seeking God, that it’s not about what I can do for God or how good I can be. Because the scriptures say there is no one Good but God alone.
I realized that for me it is impossible to obtain salvation! For all men it is impossible! Only for God it is possible! When I realized that I was sick, born a sinner and in need of someone to save me… I found that Jesus Christ was the only one who offered his life as a sacrifice for my sins!
He became my medicine.
AND I’m only 17.
So then now, I do not serve him because I have to. I do not worship because I’m sad. I do not seek him, for treasure, or for heaven. I do not give to him for something in return for I know he is not in debt but I am. I do not love him because it will save me or he will satisfy my needs.
I love him because he loved me first. I give to him because all is his. I come to him because I am sick and he is my healer. I worship him because I know he is worthy and he heals my brokenness! I live for him because I died to self and he lives in me. I go out and talk about him because through all of this, at the same time he is satisfying my needs. He is giving me everything according to his purpose. I am free!
That is what Jesus my Savior did for me.
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Circle of Prayer
Circle of Prayer is a ministry of the American Bible Society, a Christian ministry that has been engaging people with the life-changing message of God’s Word for nearly 200 years.
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Please note that the views expressed in this story are not necessarily the views of the American Bible Society. Story posted on July 12th, 2010 and filed under Evangelization, Hope, Sadness, Struggles, Your Stories.
