Friday, December 8, 2006
Matt is 16, and he hates his birthday. At least, that's what he told some of his friends. He said his birthday is always the worst day of the year for him, ever since his sixth birthday. He remembers that like it was yesterday. His mom went out and bought a special cake, invited all his friends to come over for Matt's birthday party, and nobody came. And since there was nobody there for the party, his mom took the cake back to the store. There was no one there to celebrate him.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "No One There to Celebrate You."
Most people haven't had a party in their honor that no one showed up for. But a lot of people feel like their life has been a party that no one showed up for. In fact, you may feel right now like there's no one there celebrating you. So many times, you have felt overlooked, neglected, maybe you've felt abandoned, and betrayed. You're questioning your own value. You may be successful, surrounded by people, spiritually involved, but maybe the feelings of unworthiness have not changed.
Someone very important thinks you're very important. Actually, He was there for your first birthday - the day you were born. He created you. And this One who rules the galaxies values you more than you can imagine. God's commitment to you is spelled out very clearly in our word for today from the Word of God.
In Isaiah 49:15-16, your Creator says, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you." Did you get what God's saying to you here? "I will not forget you." If everyone else does, He will not. He never has. He never will. How can you be sure that you're always on God's mind? Well, listen to the next verse, "See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands."
Do you know how Jesus' friends knew it was Him after He came back from the dead? By the nail prints in His hands. Those prints, hammered there when He was nailed to the cross, are there forever. And when Jesus looks at His hands, He sees the nail prints and He thinks of you, because He died on that cross for you. You can walk up to that cross in your mind and say these words right from the Bible, "He loved me and gave Himself for me."
It was the only way you could ever spend eternity with Jesus in heaven. All your religion, your good deeds, could never pay the death penalty that goes with your sin. And because Jesus doesn't want to lose you, He took that death penalty for you. That's how much you mean to Him. That's how much He loves you. And once you belong to Him, He will never turn His back on someone He loved enough to die for.
But sadly, you may not belong to Jesus because you've never opened your heart to Him; you've never given Him you. You've never felt like you're worth much because you've never known the One who gave you your worth - who thought you were worth His life. But beginning today, you can finally belong to the One who loves you most. But you have to tell Him that you want to begin a relationship with Him. The Bible says about Him, "You were created by Him and for Him." And He waits now for you to reach out in total trust to tell Him He's your only hope. Find a quiet place as soon as you can and say, "Jesus, thank You for dying for me. I wasn't supposed to run my life. I have, but I thank You that You made me and you loved me enough to die for me. And I will find the love and the worth of my life - the relationship I was made for in You."
If you'd like to begin that relationship with Him. If you want to know you belong to Him before you go to sleep tonight, would you visit us at our website where we can help you have that assurance. It's /">yoursforlife.net. Or call and get this in written form, my little booklet, "Yours For Life." It's available at no charge if you'll call us for it at 877-741-1200.
The Son of God made you - gave His life for you. You are on the edge of more love than you ever dreamed you could have.
To read Ron's booklet Yours for Life online, click here.