Jesus Accepted Me Just as I Was

Being accepted by God was a concept that I found hard to wrap my head around. For a very long time, I struggled with the thought of a Holy God loving me just as I am. All I saw were my flaws and the lack of knowledge that I had towards the things of God. It was hard for me to understand how God could love me, a poor sinner.

I went on feeling that way for quite some time. It wasn’t until I took God at His Word that things started to change for me. Knowing that Jesus came to save me made me very happy. I was lost in my sin and needed a way out. Jesus was my way out of a life of sin.

For the Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost. Luke 19:10 (KJV)

We are lost in darkness and can’t see the way of truth in life until the Light of the world comes and shows us the path we should take. John 8:17 lets us know that Jesus is the Light of the world. He guides us in the right ways of life. He lights up the pathway to righteousness we should walk in, for:

In the way of righteousness is life (Proverbs 12:28)

Life is what I needed because I was dead on the inside. I had no joy, peace, and I couldn’t feel the love of others. I wasn’t living in the way of righteousness that would cause me to have life. I was living in sin, and sin brought death. The people I was around didn’t add anything to my life. The more I tried to build, the more I would fail. 

My problem was that I was trying to do things my way.  I was trying to build a life on what I felt was right or thought the Bible meant, but I was wrong. We cannot establish a successful life based on our strength or wisdom. I had to structure my life on the Rock. Matthew 7:24 lets us know that Jesus is the Rock upon whom we should build our life. Jesus says we are wise if we form our lives based on His words.

To begin the process of trusting Jesus and building my life on His Words, I had to go to Him just as I was. The lost, broken, drunken, fornicating liar that I was needed to be saved by the grace of God.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8)

I needed God’s grace, not my head knowledge. I couldn’t go to God with any goodness of my own. I had to go to Him in my weakness, deprived of strength and in desperation for Him. I had to go to Him confessing my sin so that I could receive His forgiveness.

God allowed me to understand that without Christ, I would spend eternity in Hell. Those sinful acts that I was willingly committing were leading me down a path to eternal death. I needed to be set free from the bondage of sin, and Jesus did that for me.

 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)

Freedom in Jesus Christ is absolute. We don’t have to come to Him hiding who we are. Our sins don’t scare Him or make Him look down on us if we’re coming to Him for deliverance. He will gladly accept us if we go to Him in faith. Jesus Himself said,

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37 (KJV).

He will not make us feel unwelcome if we go to Him for salvation. He stands at the door of our hearts and knocks, waiting for us to let Him in. How long has Jesus been knocking on the door of your heart? How long has He been asking you to turn from sin and to follow and obey Him? Today has to be the day you say yes to Him.

Jesus is not asking that we come to Him clean. He’s saying, “Come to me, I’ll clean you Myself. I’ll be to You what those others couldn’t be to you. I’ll show you what love is and give you a newness of life.” Allow this to be the time in your life that you trust Jesus to save you and make you brand new.

Pray this prayer with me:  Father, I come to You just as I am, empty, lost, and confused. You said in Your word that You came to save those that are lost. I’m lost, Oh God, and need You to shine Your light on my heart so that I can see Your way and not my own. Save me, Lord, from my sin and make my life brand new. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May God bless you.