"He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering , and familiar with pain . Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem ." - Isaiah 53:3 I remember feeling extremely confused at first. Had I said something hurtful? Perhaps I had forgotten her birthday or broken a promise previously made? I did not remember having done/said anything to cause offense yet she refused to continue the friendship without so much as an explanation. I was around 8 maybe 9 years old when my one and only friend (for reasons unbeknownst to me as of this day) decided to call it quits! I had recently immigrated to the States with my family and spoke little English. This girl, being the only Spanish speaker in my grade, had quickly become my best friend. Yet the friendship ended both quickly and abruptly. After replaying the days events and crying beyond consolation, I learned what rejection truly felt like. Whether it's the loss ...
" For sin shall no longer be your master , because you are not under the law but under grace..." -Romans 6:14 There is a common unspoken belief amongst Christians that we cannot overcome sin. That somehow the victory that Jesus purchased is only enough to cleanse our sins yet not to give us power over them. I say unspoken because most would not openly admit to this belief, yet our actions agree to it. We go through life with this invisible sign on our backs that says "I will try my best to live a godly Christian life because since I was born in sin, all I can really do is try and because God knows I'm only human, He won't expect anything more from me." Yet the death and resurrection of Jesus did more than just wipe our slate clean. God not only defeated death and sin but also gave us believers the power to overcome those very sins which once enslaved us (1 Cor 6:11). And not just some small sins either, the cross gives us power over all manner of...