Open Up Your Heart By Victoria Osteen
I often find that when some people first hear that God loves them, that Jesus wants to enter into a relationship with them, they are only confident enough to let Him in a little bit. Perhaps that’s you today. Maybe there are some areas in your life that you think, “If He knew that about me, He’d walk away.” You might think you need to clean yourself up first and somehow be good enough to experience His love.
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Today, I hope you’ll read the story in John 8 of the woman caught in the act of adultery and imagine standing there trembling in her place. The religious leaders had dragged her in front of Jesus, publicly condemned her to the Law’s judgment of stoning, and asked what Jesus had to say. But Jesus just knelt down and began writing in the dirt with his finger. After they continued to question Him, He said to the accusers, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then He went back to writing on the ground. With her life at stake, what relief must she have felt as the accusers slowly walked away.
Picture her as Jesus stood up and looked at her. There’s little doubt that she had heard about Him–that He performed miracles, that some said He was the Messiah. But in that moment she went from hearing about Jesus to experiencing the love of Jesus. She went from overwhelming guilt and condemnation to standing face-to-face with divine mercy. Then came those amazing words from Jesus, “Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And He declared, “I don’t condemn you either. Go and sin no more.”
Can you imagine how her heart was opened by His grace and love? The most intimate wrongdoing in her life had been exposed to everyone in the community, and yet His mercy flooded her heart and gently led her to repentance. That’s what we have to believe about the love of Christ. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. God loves you in Him. There is no area of your life that you cannot open to Him. There is no sin too great. There is nothing that you’ve done that He will not forgive. The Scripture says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Before we even knew about Him, He already was in love with us.
Today, take that step from just hearing about the love of God to truly experiencing the love of God. Pursue Him with all your heart!
Read: Joel Osteen Daily Devotional 14 May 2021 – Safe in His Hands
Victoria Osteen has always had a passion and energy for life that is contagious. A lifelong Houstonian, Victoria Osteen began her career as a young woman working in her family’s jewelry business; however, the seeds of ministry were planted in her very early on. As she was growing up, both of her parents were involved in their local church, setting a powerful example for Victoria and her older brother, Don
