John 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever
believeth in Him should not parish but have everlasting life.

This is a verse that most of learned at a very early age and sad to say we can become complacent about it as the years pass because we have accepted
Christ as our Savior and we start thinking that the Gospel is only for those that are lost.

How many struggle with one sin or another, show of hands please?  Maybe you don’t struggle with drugs or stealing or anything else that the world would
consider an obvious sin, maybe you struggle with a critical spirit or gossip or maybe you have a complaining spirit.  We make the mistake too often of
categorizing sin – SIN IS SIN.  Jesus had to die for the person who lies just like He had to die for the murderer.  This is where the gospel still plays a part in your life!

Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”  Jesus
death has given us the ability to live a life that is free from the “control” of sin.  We were all born sinners but we can be free from sins death grip if we just get the full understanding that we are free, there is now NO condemnation through Him.  Whatever you are struggling with you can win, Jesus is on your side.  Don’t let Satan defeat you today by telling you messed up!  Ask for forgiveness and claim the victory that is already yours!
Today is a new day and a new beginning, we can’t change the past but that’s ok, Jesus already has!

It’s like the song by Casting Crowns “East from the West” when he says,

“Jesus can you show me

Just how far the East is from the west?”

Cause I can’t stand to see the man I’ve been

Come Rising up in me again.

In the arms of your mercy I find rest

Cause you know just how far the east is from the west –

From one scarred hand to the other.”

Jesus death doesn’t license us to live any life we want in sin, if we truly understand the Love of God and the price He paid for our salvation we wantnto live for Him.  The more we grasp His love for us the less desire we will have to sin and the stronger we will feel in our victory over sin.  Our pastor gave a great example on Sunday of this:  “If you want to lose your taste for a .99 cheeseburger at McDonalds then you need to taste a nice juicy steak.”   I would say, “If you want to lose your taste for those southern grits try Godiva Chocolate!”  If you want to lose the taste for whatever you are struggling with try getting a better understanding of how much Jesus loves you and the price He paid for that struggle.

Give Him whatever you are struggling with today.  If you struggle with it tomorrow, give it to Him again and the next day and the next day and while
you are doing that ask Him to fill you with a better understanding of His love for you.  You have victory so claim it and live in that victory today!

Quote:  “It’s not where you start – it’s where you finish that counts.”  Zig Ziglar