Others
It was almost 25 years ago that the Holy Spirit gave me the word “others” and it’s just recently that I’ve come to understand what He meant when He answered my question… “what do you want me to do?” with only one word. In my head, I was only thinking about the immediate future, what He wanted from me 25 years ago and that’s where I’ve learned so much… God’s thoughts aren’t like ours, He sees it all. He not only told me what His desire/plan was for me then but He continued to bring my life to a place where I completely understand and see as He does why He gave me the word “others”.
It’s so easy for anyone to tell you that God loves you, that He wants you to be with Him always and it’s true, He does! But I have an advantage, I can tell you that He loves you because I’ve been right where you are, I know those feelings that seem to be impenetrable, we don’t have to understand how He does it. Just that He can and will. All it takes is for us to be willing and to ask. You’ll experience a level of love that you can’t describe!! Then you’ll want to change anything and everything that doesn’t please Him. Then you’ll want “others” to know Him like you do…. that’s what being “born again” refers to…. the old you dissolves and the new you emerges. It’s so cool!
He doesn’t see our sin but sees us first, the way we were created, IN HIS IMAGE! He has continually encouraged me to tell others what He’s done in my life and what He wants and can to do for others.
So what has he done for me? I’ll tell you.
I was the typical gay, I was “living the life”, but like I mentioned before I new deep down that the way I was living didn’t make Him happy and that frightened me. I wanted to be right with Him and something else was missing, I wanted more. I wanted to be loved, really loved unconditionally, but I never found it. It seemed everyone was out for themselves in one way or another.
Then the Holy Spirit gave me a nudge… a small push by having a TV preacher read my beads! My first description of how I felt when I hooked up with Jesus was of joy and peace… sounds really churchy but it’s true! I was given happiness, real happiness that almost can’t be described! What was I so happy about? Life! Life with the knowledge that I was right with God. That everything that kept me from a relationship with Jesus was forgotten, wiped out! Then on top of that JOY… complete peace. Nope, I’d never felt that before, it’s freeing, it was like I could see for the first time and feel what freedom was really like. I have friends, real friends now that think the same way I do and go the extra mile to help when help is needed and care about all parts of my life and others. But I have to admit that the thing that dwarfs all those great feelings is the fact that I’ve never felt alone cause I have the Spirit of God with me. Talk about intimidating, but once you come to the realization that He’s there for you, its the best BFF!
I hope you understand that I’m not bragging on myself or saying I’m special. That peace and joy came to me when I asked Jesus into my life, and then He began “cleaning house” which btw happens to everyone gay or straight and it didn’t happen over night. Relationships changed, then through my growing in His understanding, He let me see the things that rubbed Him the wrong way and that I needed to purge from my life but it was up to me to choose to keep dropping the baggage and as I did my relationship and understanding of HIs plan for me grew. I’m no different than anyone else…EXCEPT I’ve asked Jesus to be in my life now and forever. No one can make you change, not even Him. I’ve been asked to GO and share with others like you the truth that He doesn’t hate us, that we can experience God’s kingdom right now, to do God’s will right now. To be right with Him right now. To be a child of the most High right now… and forever. I can only share with you what I’ve experienced and know. God is real! His love is perfect. He doesn’t condemn you but only asks for you to let go and let Him recreate you into a new person. One that not only is right with Him but will bring “OTHERS” to Him as well.
(JOHN 3: 19)
Paul said, “you are that ones slave whom you obey” Romans 6.16