Purchased

Purchased

An idea really struck me today, in a way I hadn't really thought about before. I wasn't on one of my lovely walks but in the supermarket. Whilst I was busily filling my 'shopping bag for life' and saving the planet from plastic bag overload, one of the items fell off the belt, a piece of shrink wrapped fish. I considered for a moment whether the food had been spoilt at all. Unusually, the item had fallen after the checkout girl had passed it over the light. At that instant, I  realised, that I now owned that fish, whatever state it was in. 

Isn't that like being a Christian? Well Jesus has purchased us, once and for all. His great sacrifice saved us from eternal damnation; we cannot be ’unpurchased’. Once that commitment to follow Him has been made, we are forever part of His kingdom. Some folk may lose their way, and whatever Sin is committed after coming to Christ will have to be reckoned up; hopefully before their life ends as it wasn't in the original account. A bit like starting an unexpected overdraft at the bank; it is putting off the payment as a kind of goodwill deal. If a Christian finds faith once more those sins need to be brought to the foot of the cross. Not just by saying sorry to God, but having to make real and often difficult changes, to enable the forgiven person to walk that narrow path to  spiritual fulfillment once more. Once you have passed through the light, that is making a commitment to Christ, you have to keep short accounts with God; if your life falls by the wayside, you need the support of other Christians to help you back up again, you cannot lose the Lord from your life. 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; for you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.

Revelation 7:13,14

Then one of the elders asked me, "These in White robes - who are they, and where did they come from?"

"I answered, "Sir, you know."

And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

 He watches over and waits, full of love, not judging, even the angels in heaven say prayers for you. It is always about choosing Him and not the other way around. Also, it is not in the spirit of, what's in it for me if I do, but choosing to live for Him, is freedom. The knots in your situation, the parts in Life you cannot change, the sad feelings, frustrations, and grief, begin to unravel; through prayer and an increase in faith. How does Faith increase? By the Grace of God, it is a gift that gathers gradually, like feathers developing on a chick; the feathers change, become stronger, more like quills. Stick with Jesus because one day, you will open those wings and fly!