Jesus offers mercy to messed up people.

I have a confession to make. Over my lifetime, I have made many mistakes, sinned, and been frail. At times, I am weak. I get impatient, think evil thoughts, say the wrong thing, and often mess up. 

The truth is that I have sinned against God many times over, too many to count. Just ask my wife and my children. They see me at my best but also at my worst. I may be able to hide certain things from my family, but I cannot hide anything from God. He sees all. He knows all.

The Bible makes it clear that we have all messed up.

“We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.” (Isaiah 64:6 NLT)

Without God’s mercy, I am lost. While I do my best to be a good guy and to live a life of excellence, I am flawed. I often try to go the extra mile to bless others, but deep down, I know I mess up and fall short. Many times, I miss the mark. Sometimes I’m a mess. I mess up more often than I want to admit.  

The Bible is clear that we are all sinners.

“No one is good. Not even one.” (Romans 3:10)

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23)

Again, we are told, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.” (Jeremiah 17:9)

It asks, “Who knows how bad it is?” It then tells us that God sees it all. We cannot hide anything from him, for “I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10)

Even Paul, who wrote more books in the New Testament than anyone else, said, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” (Romans 7:14-15)

Paul said, “And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” (Romans 7:18-19)

Sin leads to eternal death. 

In Bible times, people living in Ephesus, which was a wealthy port in the Roman province of Asia, were told, “Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.” (Ephesians 5:3-6)

And again, to the people living in Galatia, which today is an area in modern-day Turkey, God’s word warned them (and us) that “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

God hates sin. Sin disqualifies us from entering God’s Kingdom and puts our eternity at risk of hell. 

“For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)

But thank God that he didn’t just leave us there. Jesus intervened. Although the price of sin is death, we are told, “but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Roman’s 6:23)

Sin cut us off from God’s best.

The good news is that Jesus is “a friend of sinners.” (Matthew 11:19)

He came to set the captives free, so He died on the cross, paid the total price to ransom all people from sin and death, and offers us new life. 

He can take your mess and do a miracle.
He can take your mistakes and offer His mercy.
He can take your mud-stained life and bring total cleansing. 

If it weren’t for God’s grace and mercy, I would have no hope. I would be lost for eternity, sunk, and so would you. But because Jesus stood in the gap and took the rap for us, there is hope. 

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8)

Jesus is the Savior of the world. He gave His life and took the nails for you and me. He died in our place. Jesus paid it all. And because of God’s mercy, He withheld the punishments we deserve. His grace cannot be earned. It is a gift, and gifts are free. You cannot pay someone for a gift.  We cannot earn it. It is underserved grace. His love can remove the stains of sin and guilt. His power can transform your life and bring you peace even in the middle of your mess. 

A waterfall of God’s forgiveness is available to you that flows from the cross of Jesus Christ. 

“But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

This scripture is written in the present continuous tense and gives a picture of a waterfall of God’s mercy and grace, where Jesus shed His blood once and for all, and His blood continues to cleanse us from all sin. 

This scripture says, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (1 John 1:8-9)

God sees all. He knows all. Yet we can come boldly to Jesus and confess our sins to Him. He is faithful (loyal and steadfast) and just (morally fair and correct) in unforgiving our sins because He has already paid the total price on the cross. You can, therefore, be cleansed from all your sins and wrongdoings through the waterfall of God’s mercy and grace. 

Jesus forgives sinners. 

He offers mercy. 

He offers new beginnings. 

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

Jesus can lift you from the mud and put you on solid rock.
He can set you free from your guilt and shame.
He can deliver you from any past transgressions that may be haunting you. 

Paul referred to himself as the “chief of sinners,” but he also understood the underserved mercy of God. He said, “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

Paul shared how “God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:16)

Again, Paul said to the people living in Rome, “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:24)

Jesus is the solution. 

Do you know Him as your Lord and Savior? 

If not, call on Him today. 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

This scripture goes on and tells us, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)

Jesus doesn’t want to hold you in bondage to your sin and keep you feeling condemned. No, he came to save you. 

In Romans 8, Paul confirmed this, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” (Romans 8:1-2)

Paul continued, “The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So, God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body, God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.” (Romans 8:3 NLT)

Jesus can turn your life around. 

He can make a way even when there seems to be no way out.

Surrender your life to Him. 

Give Him your sin. 

Release your burdens.

Today, turn to God. 

Give Him your mess. 

Receive His mercy. 

Give God your sins, concerns, worries, and mishaps. 

God can turn your life around. 

He can bring dead things back to life. 

Give God your struggles. 

Surrender your battle to Him, for your battle belongs to Him. Even if a war rages in your heart, Jesus has all power and authority. He will heal you. He can turn the tide. 

Even with impossible odds stacked against God, God can bring you through. 

I know how the story ends. 

I know who won the battle. 

“You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-15)

Sin leads to death. But God forgave all our sins. The complete charges of sin stacked against you were canceled because Jesus paid them in full. They were nailed to the cross. And on the cross, Jesus won the battle. He is victorious. 

You may have messed up. Today is the day you can know God’s forgiveness. By surrendering your life and sins to Jesus, God can take your messes and mistakes and transform your life. He can do a miracle and bring you new life. 

Today is your day of salvation. 

Surrender your life to Jesus. 

You can call on Jesus right now… 

Dear Lord Jesus, I need you. I know I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)

Today is a day of new beginnings. You are cleansed, forgiven, and made whole because you have put your faith in Jesus. 

If you have prayed this prayer, please let us know. We would love to pray for you and send you an incredible eBook to help you on your journey with God.

It is time to share the love of Jesus with others.

As a blood-bought Child of God, you are now a new creation. You are now forgiven and have a relationship with God, and God calls you to be His ambassador and share this good news with those He brings your way. 

“And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:18- 21)

Forgiveness is not based on our works or efforts but solely on the finished work of Jesus. 

Jesus can take any person’s mess and mistakes and do a miracle. He forgives. He invites sinners to be reconciled to God and become children of God. Jesus sets captives free. He is the God of new beginnings.

If you are struggling with sin and living a life devoid of God, turn to Him now. Put your faith in Him. Receive His forgiveness. Your life will never be the same again.

Once you have made the decision, there is no turning back. It is now time to share God’s message of hope and life with others so that they can be transformed by the love of Jesus and the power of the cross.

Related: Our World Needs a Demonstration of God’s Power – How to be used powerfully by God!