Integrity- People of God

John 18:37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” NKJV

Jesus came to show us the truth of who we were created to be and the truth of who God is. God is our Father and He loves us with an everlasting love and He sent Jesus to bear witness to this truth. Believing the truth of God’s word was the first battle in the garden and it is still the battle that every person will face in life today.  Everyone will stand at the crossroad of life and decide whether they will listen and obey the voice of God or listen to Satan’s lie.

Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me? 

Jesus was forsaken by God the Father because He took on our sin and now we can take His position as sons and daughters. Jesus paid our sin debt of death so that we could receive His righteousness and His abundant and eternal life.

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

In the midst of being crucified and being offended, insulted and hurt by others, Jesus prayed to His Father, to forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing or who they are doing it to.

We are told to forgive, if our Father in heaven has forgiven ussuch a great debt, our rebellion against God and the death of His Son, surely we can forgive others.  People hurt people because they have been hurt. Many people will look at us and will not know who we are, though we are children of the Most High King. God may allow us to be in situations like His Son Jesus, so that we may pray for those who abuse and misuse us. We too can ask God our Father to forgive them so that He may bring eternal salvation into their lives. 

John19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he said unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then said he to the disciple, Behold they mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. 

In the midst of His own pain and agony, Jesus was concerned, caring for others and those He would leave behind. Jesus gave His mother Mary another person in her life to be a son to her, the disciple John. To John, Jesus gave him His mother Mary to be someone he could care for and show his love. Both John and Mary were losing a person they loved dearly but Jesus gave them one another so they could comfort and to be a blessing to each other.

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, it is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Jesus said, “It is finished,” His work as the Son of Man on earth was completed. Jesus is the Son of Man who would represent all men before God and He paid all that was owed by all mankind. It is finished, nothing missing and nothing lacking. We can now come boldly to the throne of God to receive forgiveness, grace,mercy and His love. 

This is the message of God and His truth. God loves those created in His image and they are of great worth to Him. God is our Father and He loves us with an everlasting love and so much so that He sent Jesus to bear witness to this truth and to bring us into the family of God. 

Only we can decide to believe the truth of our identity in Christ, that we are children of the Most High King and we are here to represent Him on the earth. The first battle in the garden was a battle of truth and lies and every person will face that same battle in their lives today.  Everyone will stand at the crossroad of life and decide whether they will listen and obey the voice of God or listen to Satan’s lie.

When we believe right, we will live right. When we are in bondage to something, it is because we do not know the truth of God on the matter and who we are in Christ.

The world will know the people of God by the love they have for one another. Christ loved us while we were at enmity withGod in our minds and our actions.  Christ loved us unconditionally; we did not deserve it and could not earn it. Christ’s love was sacrificial.  Jesus gave His life and He died so that we could live righteously, have eternal life and be with God. 

Jesus gave us one new commandment, to love others as He has loved us.

John 13:34 A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. NIV