Got three minutes? I’m almost too embarrassed to write this post because what I am about to share is so simple. I could even add that it might be considered to be too simple. Simple or not, here it is.
The three-letter word “you” is an enormously big word to God. You? Yep, you! (See, I told you that this is simple.) Let me explain. God LOVES to personalize and focus the thoughts in His Word, otherwise, we might quickly read His Word, give mental assent to what we are reading, and read into the scripture an “anybody” or “everybody” and totally miss His “you”.
(Before I go any further, let me make sure that we are on the same page. For clarity, let me specify that the “you” is the person reading this post right now.)
Without a doubt, you are already convinced about the “you” of salvation. It’s true that Christ died for the whole world, right? While salvation has been provided for everyone, God definitely, unequivocally, without exception desires to SAVE YOU.
(Note: All scriptures are taken from the English Standard Version.)
✦ “…Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31
For most, salvation is a given. No convincing is needed to share that salvation is provided for you. And yet, going beyond salvation is where many people miss it. Read the scripture and you will find that the “you” doesn’t stop with salvation. The God who definitely, unequivocally, without exception desires to save you is also the God who definitely, unequivocally, without exception desires to provide divine healing for you. I’ll write it again. God desires to HEAL YOU.
✦ “…for I am the LORD, your healer.” Exodus 15:26
✦ “…I will take sickness away from among you.” Exodus 23:25
✦ “…who heals all your diseases;” Psalm 103:3
Did you see the “you” in salvation and divine healing? It’s there in plain sight, isn’t it? Let me add one more “you” to this post. God knows that every one of His children needs a Helper to empower and equip them in their Christian walk. The help comes from the infilling of His precious Holy Spirit. God definitely, unequivocally, without exception desires to FILL YOU.
✦ “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,” John 14:16
✦ “And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.” Acts 2:16-18
✦ “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Acts 2:39
Simple? Well, right from the start, I told you that it was a simple thought. Needed? Oh, my goodness, yes! Needed for you specifically? Possibly, probably…if for no other reason than to serve as a reminder to not leave out the “you” that God has purposefully included in His Word and plan.
I totally think of my Savior on a very personal level. My relationship with God is for “me”. Thusly the “you” context is spot on. From there we influence the flock.
It can’t get any simpler. The “you” means “me”!