Know Jesus
The greatest purpose for which you were created was to get to know God. I wish someone had written that on your birth certificate. The reality is no one did.
From a young age, your mind became a battleground for questions as you try to reason, reflect and relate to your world. That has now led you to a journey of being curious about spiritual matters. You may have tried to suppress that part of you that thirsts for the spiritual and you were surprised, it just does not go away. It does not go away for anyone - we were wired to be spiritually inquisitive.
Our spiritual curiosity leads to wanting to know the truth about God and how to apply the knowledge of the transcendent to our lives.
Its in this quest that we learn that from the cradle we are being serenaded by God.
This thought can just blow your mind. An infinite God that cannot be contained by the vastness of this universe loving a mere mortal and being willing and able to pay whatever be that price for friendship with you but something stood between this friendship. It is a three letter word, S-I-N, which simply means to miss the mark or to miss the standard established by God. Our great granddaddy, Adam, was the first to blow it and he blew it big time. His rebellion plunged all of humanity, including us, into what seemed to be an inescapable state of brokenness and frailty. The gulf got wide between God and man and His love now rushed to provide the bridge.
His extravagant love and desire for friendship with you costed God His Son.
Two thousand years ago, His only Son, who was pre-existent with Him intersected time and space walked this earth for thirty-three years.
He was a revolutionary that drew all kinds of people to Himself, the powerful and the powerless, the old and the young, learned and unschooled. Even prostitutes and tax collectors came to Him. He was called a friend of sinners or a friend of those who missed the mark. His popularity and fame costed him His life as religious people decided to do away with him.
His body was beaten and battered and became one mass of flesh with blood trickling to the ground. He died a cruel death to pay the ransom or price for your sins and mine but on the third day He rose from the dead, victorious not only over sin but also death. This substitutionary death has now created an incredible opportunity for you to become a friend of God.
So no matter who you are and how good you think you are or are not, the great news is that you do not have to work it out on your own, the price has been paid for you in full. You can now start this radical way of life and become a Jesus follower.
So how do you become a follower of Jesus?
1. Realize that you are a sinner.
We are all sinners. Sin separates us from God. The Bible, which is Gods message to people, says in Isaiah 59:2, Your iniquities [wrong doings] have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you. In Romans 3:10, the Bible says, "No one is good-not even one" (NLT).
2. Recognize that Jesus died on the cross for you.
The Bible also tells us, "But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while were still sinners" (Romans 5:8 NLT). This is the glorious declaration, that God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die in our place when we least deserved it. His justice requires a price to be paid for our sins and so Jesus paid that price in full on the cross for our sins.
3. Repent of your sin.
Repent and be willing to turn away from your lifestyle of sin. The Bible tells us to "repent and be converted". "Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed of your sins." (Acts 3:19 NLT). Tell Jesus you are sorry for your sins and ask Him to cleanse you.
4. Receive Jesus into your life.
Becoming a Jesus follower is not just saying a prayer or going to church on Sunday. It is opening the door of your heart and asking Jesus to come and live in your life and heart. He offers us a beautiful relationship, a friendship. Jesus said, "Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in..."(Revelation 3:20 NLT).
Romans 10:13 - "Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."
If you would like to have a relationship with Jesus, simply pray this prayer and mean it in your heart:
Warning! Pray this only if you are serious because it will change your life.
"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. Thank you for speaking to my heart and awakening me. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I repent of my sins and confess you as my Lord and Savior. Come into my heart and set me free. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. Thank you for saving me. Amen."
If you just prayed that prayer, congratulations! You just became a Jesus follower.
This is the most important prayer you can pray in your lifetime. Your sins have been forgiven. The Bible tells us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9 NKJV).
If you just prayed asking Jesus to be your Savior please send me an HYPERLINK "mailto:sujo@sujojohn.com" email and let me know. You will make my day.
Now that you have started this journey
Please spend time reading God's Holy Word, the Bible. It is His instruction book for us. Begin by reading the Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Spend quality time praying, which is simply a conversation with God, go to a bible believing church and tell others about Jesus. More importantly do your heavenly father proud by walking your talk because, ultimately, your actions will speak louder than your words.
