(Re)making Jesus Christ the Center of My Life, part 3/5.

(Re)making Jesus Christ the Center of My Life, part 3/5.


Our first step (part 1) towards making Jesus Christ the center of our lives was focusing on God instead of ourselves. The second step (part 2) was repentance. From there we move on to confessing our sins and asking for Christ to cleanse us inside out because If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.(1 John 1: 8-9)

This painting ‘Christ and Mary Magdalene’ by a Finnish painter Albert Edefelt speaks more than ten thousands of words. She knows her sins and she is begging forgiveness from Jesus. Do you see how gently Jesus is approaching her, probably going to help her up? Jesus is delighted to see Mary Magdalene asking for forgiveness because this is why God sent him into the world. This is why Jesus died on the cross. This is why Word needed to become flesh: God with us.

Mary Magdalene was indeed forgiven. She was richly blessed and grew in grace. Mary Magdalene was the first to witness the risen Christ! In fact, she was the first to preach the resurrection, to the apostles themselves. Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.(John 20:18)

We are all called to pass on the good news of Jesus Christ: I have seen the Lord! He lives, He reigns. He is God with us. He has come so that we could be made right with God by grace through faith. Let’s confess our sins and (re)make Jesus Christ the center of our lives!

Gracious God,
We come to you to ask for forgiveness.
We hate our ways.
We hate what we have become.
Please, forgive us for the sake of your son, Jesus Christ.
Come and change us! Cleanse us inside and out!
Come and live in us and show us how to grow in your grace.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How does asking forgiveness make you feel?

Part 4 will be posted on the 31st of December 2009.

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