You Were The Because

Teen Devotional Lesson

Today I wanted to show you what could be a police drawing of a hardened criminal.  

Somewhere in life, this man learned to be a murderer and thief.   He wasn't just any criminal, He was

a serial killer and hated by many.  With Halloween coming around the corner you wonder why anyone would have a problem with this lesson if they allow the terror of Halloween into their child's life.  This was life in the bible times - they crucified publicly.  

The Holy Bible speaks of a serial killer and a thief, His name was Barabbas.  Barabbas was hated

but they hated someone else more.

 Matthew 27:17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

The crowds of people were chanting Crucify Him, Crucify Him, Crucify Him.

Envy and jealousy tempted the hearts of the religious leaders.  They stirred up the crowds\against Jesus.  They chanted loud and long and then Pontius Pilate gave them a choice.

Who do you want me to release to you today?  Jesus or Barabbas?

They chanted and yelled Crucify Jesus.

He was hit over and over again and whipped with a catoninetails,  beyond recognition, 

Spit upon, mocked, ridiculed and suffered in agony emotionally.  He was shown cruelty from people who professed to know God. 

Sinless Christ Jesus - Took Barabbas's Place. 

He willingly went to the cross:

He could have destroyed the whole

world with one word.

But He chose to be afflicted,

persecuted, crucified by people and rejected by God.

He took upon himself our every sin.

He paid the price to save me, you and all the world.

Then in three days, He arose. 

John3:16 

For God so loved the world, that he gave 

his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him 

should not perish, but have everlasting life.

See the bible says. - Without Christ - We are dead while we liveth.

But the minute you believe and accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour.

You arise from the dead in your soul.

You become alive to God for the first time. 

It is called being born again.

The verse just after Romans 10:9

teaches us what happens when you truly believe.

When you believe, you will believe unto righteousness.

When you believe you will be willing to make changes 

in your life that makes you more usable to God.

God will lead you and direct you as you ask Him to guide your way.

We are always becoming either bitter or better as a Christian.

God's will is for us to become better.

Barabbas represents you, me and all sinners.

We do not deserve to be forgiven.

None of us do.

But God provided the way of salvation..but it

is up to us to accept it.  He gives us a choice.

In the old testament.  The people were directed with this command.

"choose you this day whom ye will serve".

Barabbas was stunned I'm sure as 

He watched an innocent man die for His terrible crimes.

I wonder if He ever understood what Jesus did for him.

Only God can soften a heart of stone.  God's love 

is revealed by His forgiveness where it is not deserved and especially 

shown in His willingness to take our place.

I brought another drawing that could be a picture of a missing person.  

She is a really good person.

She has given to the poor and seems almost perfect to

some people.  But this woman is lost and needs someone to find her.

We have here two pictures -  but a good person without

 Jesus is just as lost as Barabbus.

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You know what? When our family goes fishing we put worms on our hook and it leaves worm

guts and fish all over our hands.  If you use any kind of bait it leaves stuff on your hands.  We use a rag to wipe our hands off.  All day long we are wiping our hands off while we are fishing.  The rag even sets in the hot sun for a while.  It becomes a filthy rag. God compares our righteousness to a filthy rag.

A person can be really, really good and still not know Jesus.  

 Matthew 7:22-23 

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

 And then will I (Jesus) profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 Isaiah 64:6a   But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.

Jesus is the only way of salvation. 

Here is a writing, I'm going to read to you today called

"You Were The Because"

Dramatically Read.

Susan Y Nikitenko

 2Peter 3:9 

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus

         God has set out a plan for us. His plan tells us how to be saved, 

what to trust in and who to trust in.  We are saved by grace through faith ( belief and obedience)

exemplifies faith.  I can prove this with three passages of scripture.

Romans 10:9,10

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Ephesians 2:8

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

Ephesians 2:9 
Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Belief moves to righteous actions     This is a sign of change and repentance.

Father God, I praise you today, that you are a God who forgives our failures, A God who loves us unconditionally and saves us eternally.  I pray that if there's anyone here that does not know you, that their understanding would be opened and their hearts softened to accept you.  You know Lord when I speak of the heart ( I'm speaking of a person's understanding, their very being).  Not the pumping heart beating in our chest.  We know though Lord, that you do know every beat of our heart.  You hold our lives in your hands. You know our struggles, our weakness, our desires and our motives. None of these things has changed the fact that you love us, that you use unperfect people with problems.  You save undeserving sinners.  It is you that has given us a clean slate and our sins are forgiven.   If there is anyone here that needs to be saved and wants to find peace with you, know that they can be forgiven forever and can know that God is their Father in heaven.  I pray Lord if there is any person seeking these things today that you would give them the courage to come to talk to me today.  I ask this in Christ name, Amen.

Susan Y Nikitenko
Devotional
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