When I Say ...

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I'm not shouting "I am saved"

I'm whispering "I was lost"

That is why I chose this way.

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble

And need someone to be my guide.

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak

And pray for strength to carry on.

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I'm not bragging of success.

I'm admitting I have failed

And cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I'm not claiming to be perfect,

My flaws are all too visible,

But God believes I'm worth it.

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I still feel the sting of pain

I have my share of heartaches

Which is why I speak His name.

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I do not wish to judge.

I have no authority.

I only know I'm loved.

Religion. A very 'big' word for some.

A very 'spiritual' word for some.

And for some, it's a segment of life that is missing and ignored.

When asked, "What's your religion?",

immediately, we get different answers

How many of us really think,

is that really my own strong conviction?

Or was it my parent's?

Or was it my friend's?

What's my religion then?

To be very honest with you,

I do not have a religion...

Religion?

It's useless.

It's unbelievable and too far fetched.

It's confusing.

It's just a name.

But this I have.

A relationship with God.

An intimate relationship with the Creator,

who knows me by name,

who created me exactly the way I am,

who lifts me up when I break down to the deepest pits,

who rescues me from burdens far toobig for me,

whose Love for me never changes no matter how far I stray,

who loved me until He did His craziest act for me...

To die on the cross for my sins so that I can be reconciled to Him.

So what's my belief?

Well, it's definitely not about a set of rules which were given to me,

obey them so that God would love me.

It's about the love which He had already shown me before I even knew Him.

It's not working for Him or doing good deeds so that I can go to Heaven.

It's about the free gift of eternal life which He offered,

free of charge,

if only I would let down my pride and receive the gift.

I was on the highway to hell,

and it was Christ who stepped down into my world to give me a ride to the path to heaven.

No other did the same...

I was trapped in the bondage of sin,

of selfish indulgence and the pleasures of this world.

But they were all hollow...

It was Christ who came and gave me freedom as He took my shame and weaknesses once and for all as He hung there on that old rugged cross.

No other did the same...

I was puffed up with pride,

thinking I was wise, I was in control of my life.

Not when the calamities of life came.

Death of loved ones, financially crippled, decisions which led to regrets...

It was Christ who came and showed me humility,

though He was God,

He made himself a nobody,

a servant,

a man of dependant on the grace of God.

No other did the same...

I was a wretch, a sinner, condemned, guilty and unworthy.

But...

It was Christ,

who reached out His hands to me, saying the three words every human longs and aches for deep down.

"I love you."

No others did the same.

I didn't find such unconditional love in others.

Not in money.

Not even in my friends and families.

Not even in pleasure and entertainment.

Not in anything at all in this world.

Are you like me?

Confused?

No way out?

Lost your purpose, or never had one in life?

Then, I want you to know, this same Jesus is reaching out His hands to you,

ever faithful, ever waiting for you to accept that gift He gives freely.

'Religion'?

It's still useless.

But a relationship with Christ?

A bargain that's worth giving your life to.

(",)

I will like to thank this brother who emailed this interesting literature to me. =)