For your sake and my sake.

Welfare seems to have a bad connotation. Being on state welfare means being cared for by the State. And not everyone likes to hear that. Not everyone likes to be known for that. There is a great shame associated with being taken care of by another person or party.

Everyone wants to be known for the efforts they have put forth to have what they have. That’s their prestige. “I worked for it, and therefore should be known for earning it, not just receiving it.”

It hurts to know that, in life, eventually we will have to reach an end and that should someone or another party be sent our way to help and provide for us that we should thank that party and thank God for making such thing possible.

Jesus is God’s welfare to all of us. No one wants Jesus while they believe they can manage things on their own. “Yeah…Yeah…Yeah…don’t worry about me. I got things under control.” We often say.

The good news is that there is help. The bad news is that many believe that they have no need for it. Many would rather not have to need Jesus than to admit that He’s all they really need.

All the things we pride ourselves of…all the things we feel secure by…all the things we draw our praises by…we have to be made empty of those things before we can truly admit that we really need help and start seeking it from the right place or the right person.

Having Jesus as my welfare may sound shameful to some, but they have no idea of where I’ve been and what I’ve tried, what I’ve had and how much of a rest that I needed from all of that to have finally welcomed Jesus as my welfare.

Will you settle for Jesus? Ironically, he’s not the lowest bidder. Instead, Jesus gave his blood to have you as his prime possession. I think that makes him the highest bidder, right? God told him to do just that. I guess God must have really loved you to ask his Son to die in order to have you back as His and His alone, right?

As it is said,

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.” (1 Peter 1:18-20)

For your sake. Yes, for your sake and my sake.

You can let go of the hope you have in everything else and everyone else right now, and simply say, “I’ll take Jesus instead. I’ll hope in Jesus instead. I’ll be His instead.” As simple as that. Many bidders are shouting to possess you. But only Jesus’ bid comes with provision and full assurance. Jesus is the kind of bidder that buys out slaves and then release them with enough provision to live the rest of their lives. Take Jesus’ bid. You won’t be disappointed. The fact that you have Jesus as a bidder, that alone should rejoice your heart. So what are you waiting for? Say it and mean it, “I’ll take Jesus instead. I’ll hope in Jesus instead. I’ll be His instead.”