Do You Know Jesus?

God loves you far more than you can imagine. If you're not already living for Jesus, He longs for an intimate relationship with you, but that's only possible if you'll turn from the darkness of this world to His glorious light. God reached out to mankind nearly two thousand years ago by coming to earth to dwell in the form of the man Jesus in order to bridge that gap between Himself and us. He paved the way (by offering Himself as a sacrifice) for us humans to have a real and intimate relationship with the one true living God. Being "good" isn't the prerequisite. It's surrendering, and allowing His Spirit to take over. If you've never made such a commitment to Him, "now is the acceptable time, behold, NOW is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:2). If you've been living a life of selfishness, it's time to change. You can't do it yourself, but God can bring about that change in you. Just ask, believe, and commit. Your time is running out. Don't put it off.  Jesus is extending His hand to all who will reach out and accept His gracious gift of salvation. Allow Jesus to heal those deep wounds that may be keeping you bound and miserable. 

The following are some basic steps for receiving God's gift of salvation:

• Acknowledge that you are a sinner: "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23);  "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (I John 1:8).
• Have true sorrow for your sin: "I [Paul] rejoice...that you sorrow to repentance...for godly sorrow works repentance to salvation..." (II Corinthians 7:9-10).
• Confess your sins to God and ask Him to forgive you: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9);  "He that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy." (Proverbs 28:13).
• Turn from your sin (repent): "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." (Acts 3:19);  "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3); II Chronicles 7:14.
• Have faith in the Lord Jesus and ask Him to save you:   "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved." (Romans 10:9);  "You, Lord, are good and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You." (Psalm 86:5); "Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near." (Isaiah 55:6); Psalm 145:18.

• Receive God's gift of salvation: "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8);  "Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me." (Rev. 3:20).
  
  (used with permission from the author, Roland Heddins)