The need to be accepted

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

We found that the first mutual need every human has is the need for love. We must both give it and receive it. God lovingly set the benchmark at the cross.

The second common need we all share is the need to be needed. We crave to belong. Jesus invited us to be part of His family... ­ those who are forgiven.

The third greatest need we all have is this: THE NEED TO BE ACCEPTED

I grew up in a Christian home having the loving acceptance of my mom and dad. With them I didn't have to prove anything. I knew I was accepted, so I was at rest. As a result, I have a lot of self-confidence and worth.

Some of us have a black cloud following us wherever we go. Someone important hurt or rejected us years ago, and we allow that memory to stay alive and well. We beat ourselves up for our failures, thinking no one else fails like I do. Some of the world's most successful people are also the most insecure. We can work ourselves silly trying to prove ourselves to people who really don't care about us.

But God said something absolutely amazing, "Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." He also said, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness."

He is only waiting for us to call upon Him. He will accept us no matter how bad we've sinned. His grace is enough. His mercies are new every morning. God will never reject us when we humble our hearts before Him.

So why do we look to the world for its acceptance, when we already have acceptance from the King? We are accepted. Congratulations!

Now that we know that God has met our three most common needs to be loved, to belong and to be accepted, why not share this great news with someone who is still searching.

Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

The need to be needed

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Last week, we found that the first mutual need every human has is the need for love. We must both give it and receive it. God lovingly set the benchmark at the cross.

The second common need that we all share is this: the need to be needed.

All of our life is spent with a desire to belong. From trying out for 'the team' in Little League baseball, to applying for our first job, to helping our children 'grow up,' to leaving a legacy that has eternal value. Our need to be needed is intrinsic.

We all want our lives to have significance and purpose. For this Jesus died. He came to give us 'life, and life more abundantly' than the world alone can offer. He came to fulfill our destiny.
God so loved this fallen, broken world, that He NEEDED to do something.

And He did.

Now He needs us to be His voice in our families, and in our world. He needs us NOW. 'Today is the day of salvation.'

People don't need more dead religion. But they DO need hope. Our world is teetering like a drunken sailor. We weave back and forth, hoping against hope that the stock market will recover, that our kids will be loving, that our marriage will make it, that God will hold us.
Because God is love, He HAD TO HELP US. To ignore our plight would not be consistent with His character.

You and I can point people to the only one that can fulfill their need to be needed. God Himself invites us to belong to His family. He picked us for His team. How exciting is that!

Intentional for souls,
Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

P.S. Next week I'll conclude this three part series and share the third common need.

Help bring "living water" and the gospel to Haiti

Our hearts are heavy as we see the effects of this horrible and tragic earthquake in Haiti. A week before the earthquake, I had purchased my ticket to visit Haiti from January 23-27 to scope out the possibility of drilling fresh-water wells and holding large gospel crusades in unreached areas of this island.

Now, the need has obviously aggravated tremendously. As I go to Haiti in the coming weeks, will you pray that God will lead me to the right places and connect me with the right people, so we can be a blessing to this country both physically and spiritually?

As tragic as this is, we are praying that God will use this as a catalyst to turn many Haitians away from voodoo and other ungodliness and draw them to the mercy of Jesus!

I hope we can help drill many fresh-water wells and conduct a gospel crusade where thousands will turn from their sin and confess Jesus as their Lord.

Thank you for your prayers.

Intentional for souls,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org

P.S. If you would like to help bring "living water" and the gospel to the people of Haiti, please enter a donation of your choice. Donate>

The need to be loved

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Now that it's a new year, let's explore three common needs that every human being has no matter what race, culture, socio-economic class, education or religion. We all are in the same boat.

Here's the first of the three common needs: the need to be loved.

The majority of today's songs are about love: the desire to give it and the need to receive it. I grew up on the Diana Ross song, "What the world needs now, is love, sweet love." In the 70's it was the hippie’s mantra, 'make love, not war.' In Christian circles we have heard of the 'hole in our heart that only God can fill.' It's true that no husband or wife can completely fulfill us. No career or amount of money can satisfy us completely.

But God is not just something we add to our lives. He IS our lives. Without His love, nothing works right. We are hard-wired to depend on His love completely. Without it, our canoe is going upstream without a paddle. There is no hope.

But "God SO LOVED THE WORLD."

Love isn't just a cute song or catchy phrase. Love always costs big-time. Few are willing to make the commitment to a love that is 'unconditional.' That's why God's love is so attractive, it's perfect. LOVE DEMANDS SACRIFICE and God demonstrated it for us.

Now Jesus invites us to return His love by loving Him, and also loving what He loves--other people! It's easy to love people that are kind and easy going. But the test of our love comes when it costs us. Dying to our expectations is painful, but necessary. That's what makes it unconditional.

So let's thankfully receive His lavish love for us.

And let's freely offer His love to people that irritate us, ignore us, or irk us.
Jesus did... and still does!

Intentional for souls,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries
www.oasisworldministries.org