more like Jesus every step of the way. I no
longer have a sense of rejection for I have
been made accepted in the beloved. I now
belong to Him! And there is nothing in heaven
or earth that can separate me from His love.
(See Romans 8:39.)
I’d like to encourage you with Ephesians
1:3–14 from The Message. Read this passage
as if it were written for you…after all, it was.
How blessed is God! And what a
blessing he is! He’s the Father of our
Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to
the high places of blessing in him. Long
before he laid down earth’s foundations,
he had us in mind, had settled on us as
the focus of his love, to be made whole
and holy by his love. Long, long ago
he decided to adopt us into his family
through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he
took in planning this!) He wanted us to
enter the celebration of his lavish giftgiving
by the hand of his beloved Son.
Because of the sacrifice of the
Messiah, his blood poured out on the
altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—
free of penalties and punishments
chalked up by all our misdeeds. And
not just barely free, either. Abundantly
free! He thought of everything, provided
for everything we could possibly need,
letting us in on the plans he took such
delight in making. He set it all out before
us in Christ, a long-range plan in which
everything would be brought together
and summed up in him, everything in
deepest heaven, everything on planet
earth.
It’s in Christ that we find out who we
are and what we are living for. Long
before we first heard of Christ and got
Kacey shares God’s love and freedom through
her own devotional segment called “A Moment
in His Presence with Kasey Gordon” on 94.1
The Wave in Tallahassee, Florida.
our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had
designs on us for glorious living, part of
the overall purpose he is working out in
everything and everyone.
It’s in Christ that you, once you heard
the truth and believed it (this Message of
your salvation), found yourselves home
free—signed, sealed, and delivered by
the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is
the first installment on what’s coming,
a reminder that we’ll get everything
God has planned for us, a praising and
glorious life. Ephesians 1:3–14 (MSG)
This passage clearly describes how much
we are truly loved and accepted by God. We
are the focus of His love, and through our
faith in His Son, Jesus, we are adopted into
His family and made a free people. Everything
we need in this life and the life to come can
be found in Jesus. His love makes us whole.
It is my husband’s and my greatest desire to
help people discover this place of wholeness.
Keith will soon be released from prison, and
we have already begun our ministry aimed
at helping people find their place in Christ.
Because of our past, we both have a passion
for prisoners. We want the “least of these” to
know the love of God, so they can be set free
from their bondage and be healed of their pain.
Perhaps this is exactly what you need right
now—to belong…to be healed…to be free.
If so, then come to Jesus and find everything
you’ve longed for. Wholeness begins
with surrender, with choosing Jesus over
everything and everyone else. It’s through
that choice that you will find new life in Christ.
There is a place for you in the arms of
Jesus. He loves you and will receive you, no
matter what your past. Choose to come home
to Him today. You will always belong.
THREE STEPS | from page 16 _________________
When I met Maria, I didn’t know anything
about Jesus. Nobody had ever shared the Gospel
with me the way she had. Plus, I had been high
every day since the age of 16, so there had been
a constant veil over my eyes, blinding me from
the truth of God’s love. Now suddenly, it was like
that veil had been lifted.
Immediately I was delivered from anger, and
my language completely changed. I had had the
filthiest mouth, but now, every curse word was
gone. My desire for drugs was gone, too. When I
got home and saw my wife, I began weeping so
hard that she thought I had killed someone!
I looked at all the things in my house tied to
my criminal life, and I thought, “I don’t want to
do these things anymore.” I was tired of living
under the weight of anxiety, fear, and anger that
these things had brought into my life. I wanted
to be free! The change was so dramatic that even
my young son could see the difference. I’ll never
forget the day he said, “Daddy, I’m so happy
you’re a Christian now.” My anger and anxiety
had put him through so much; now my son had
a loving, joy-filled father. My son knows Jesus is
real because he sees the new man Jesus created
in me.
You know, you can be a new man or woman
too. Your life can be so dramatically changed that
even your child will notice the difference and
celebrate the change. It’s not too late.
Maybe like me, you’ve lived a life of crime.
You’ve heard and seen so much evil that you’ve
grown numb to it. Or maybe you haven’t seen
evil, but you’ve lived under the weight of the fear
of evil every day of your life. Regardless of your
past, it’s time to be free. It’s time to claim your
identity as a child of God and walk in the love of
your heavenly Father. There is so much joy and
rest there.
Standing at Maria’s door that day, I had a
choice. I could take three steps, walk out that
door, and reject God’s invitation of love and
freedom forever. Or I could turn and run into His
open arms. You might be standing at the same
crossroad. Today—just as Maria asked me—I ask
you: Are you ready to be reconciled with the
Lord? Are you ready to be free of the pain of your
past and instead, experience God’s goodness?
It’s your choice.
kojministries.org Issue 3 2017 19
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