Mark 10:45 "The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue many people." (CEV)

I love this text. It is so full of joy and hope. Jesus didn't come to make us His slaves. He doesn't make life hard. Life is hard because there is sin in the world. Jesus came to rescue us from sin. He came to rescue us from all the man made laws. If Jesus had not come we would still be trying to live by all the petty laws the Pharisees had made. But Jesus came and summed up the laws by telling us all we need to do is love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We also have hope for a bright future in Heaven with Him. If Jesus had not come there would be no hope of a home in Heaven. All Jesus asks of us is to give ourselves completely to Him. Not to be His slaves, but so that He can help us live a full and rich life.

Someone once told me they couldn't just blindly give themselves to God. They said that was blind faith. Yet people are doing that very thing all the time. People are following other gods, other teachings, and blindly accepting what they are told. Those other gods can never give a person a full and happy life. No one, and nothing can give us what God does. God is alive, and very active in the lives of everyone on this world. No other god, and nothing else, is actively watching and guiding each person who is alive.

God doesn't need us to work for Him. He can do all the work by Himself. But because He loves us and wants us to feel useful and happy, He allows us to work with Him. Like any father who has a child who wants to help, God stands back a bit and gently guides our words and actions so that we may feel useful and enjoy working with Him. Those who have spent time in service for God knows the joy of experiencing His presence while they are helping another person. Some have found themselves doing something they normally couldn't do and they know the only reason they were able to do what they did, is because God was working through them. There is a thrill and a sense of comfort when a person sees God stepping in and making things happen. We can have peace knowing it's not our job to convict other, it is God's job. All we have to do is help each other and present the truth. God will do the rest. The God of the Universe is still serving His children by reaching out to help us so we can enjoy the life we have.

It is true that we see and hear a lot of bad things in this world, but there is a lot of good in this world too. It all depends on where our focus is. If we just focus on the bad stuff going on, that's all we're going to see and we will be very unhappy. But if we focus on God, and listen to His voice, we will see the good gifts He has waiting for us. We will enjoy experiencing His presence and seeing Him work miracles in our lives. It doesn't matter what our situation is, or what bad things this world has thrown our way, God is always there, waiting for us to look His way and see the beauty and joy He has for us. He is forever waiting to serve His children so they can have joy, peace, and enjoy the company of God.

Keep your thoughts on God. Go to Him in prayer when things look frightening. He has a better view for you to see.