A Word of Encouragement

August 17, 2026

FA154 - Cluttered

Grace, Hope & Peace, Friend;

When God created Adam and Eve, He gave humanity everything we could possibly need, - security, companionship with Himself and each other, shelter, and nourishment; But we were convinced we could do better without Him - we could decide for ourselves what was best for us. We rejected Him after He gave us life. (Genesis 1-3)

Do you ever wonder why God cares about humanity when we turned our backs on Him after He created us? David did, he wrote,

Lord, what is man, that You look after him? Or a son of man, that You think of him? Man is like the breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
	Psalm 144:3-4

Like a temporary irritant, God could have simply waited for humanity to destroy ourselves - or simply swatted us away like we do with flies - and created an obedient race.

Closer to home, "Why does God care about ME?" That is a sticking point for many - "Why would God even think about me when I have been so rebellious? What could I possibly give to Him that He doesn't already have?"

The answer is simple, yet so profound that it will take eternity to fully comprehend!

God loves us and is restoring the relationship we broke.

God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.
	John 3:16
God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them
	2 Corinthians 5:19a-c

So what does God want from us?

By grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
emphasis mine	Ephesians 2:8-9

No strings attached! Only believe. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." (Acts 16:31)

We don't need to change for God - knowing Him will change us!

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
	John 17:3

Elohei haRitztzuy - God of Reconciliation - thank You for loving me.

See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are.
	1 John 3:1a-c

Only believe,