Will God Accept Me? Does God Still Love Me? Does God Really Say Come as You Are? 

Too often we hear people say…God could never love me. I’ve messed up too bad. My sins are too big. I am too ashamed. I am too broken.

But God says throughout the Bible that he welcomes everyone who comes to Him. Jesus extends acceptance and kindness first. He never says, “First clean up your act, then come to me.” Rather he first says, “Come.”

Come as You Are

You can bring anything that is weighing you down and give it to Jesus:

Bring your burdens –  Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. (Matthew 11:28-39 TPT)

Bring your shame – Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth. (Isaiah 54:4)

Bring your tears – You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. (Psalm 56:8)

Bring your fears – I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears (Psalm 34:4)

Bring your doubts – “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23b-24) Read the whole story here: Jesus Heals a boy

Bring your sins – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Bring your brokenness – The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. (Psalm 34:18)

Bring your dried-up spirit – “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. (Revelation 22:17)

Jesus Welcomes You Right Where You Are 

Jesus never belittled, shamed, or degraded people.  Especially those who were a mess. When Jesus spent time with hurting people they felt seen, accepted, worthy, loved, forgiven and rescued.

The lost - For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. (Luke 19:10)

The sinners - “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18

The sick - While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matt 9:10-13

The rebellious son – Read the story of the prodigal son – Luke 15:11-32

The tax-collector (thief) – Read the story of Zacchaeus – Luke 19:1-10

The adulterous woman – Read the story of the woman accused – John 8:1-11

The outcast – Read the story of the Samaritan Woman - John 4:4-42

He's Waiting to Forgive YOU 

If you are filled with shame and feel unworthy to receive God’s love, it’s time to hand all your sins and regrets over to God. If you think your sins are too big, remember God gave up his son Jesus who suffered and died on a cross to pay the price for YOUR sins. Don’t think for a minute that His sacrifice isn’t enough for you. Jesus' sacrifice is FAR bigger than your sins. So let it go. Confess your sins. God is waiting to forgive you. He loves a contrite and humble heart. A heart that regrets mistakes of the past and longs to be forgiven.

God’s Kindness comes first and Leads us to Repentance –Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

We confess He forgives - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

God is calling sinners -  "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32)

God loves the whole world - 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)

God’s forgiveness is for EVERYONE - If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved….Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:9 & 13

God gives favor to the humble - "Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2)

Rejoicing in Heaven

God is pursuing you today. He wants a relationship with you. He doesn’t care about your past. He is standing at the door to your heart and knocking, waiting for you to answer….”Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

When you answer the door, heaven will rejoice.  Read this passage:

Luke 15 1-10 - Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

 The God of the universe loves you and wants a personal relationship with YOU!