Salvation

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.Romans 10:9

Not everyone who reads these devotions may be 'saved' or 'know' Jesus. I can remember when I lived in California in the mid 1970's the 'Jesus Movement' was going on and a cute campaign entitled "I Found It'.  I was a relatively new born again 'baby' Christian then and did some of the work on this campaign door to door. It was a bit out of my comfort zone. Many people feel they have done their part simply due to being baptized or joining a church. Many surprises await folks at the gates of heaven when a person has not asked Jesus into their heart. 

I just remember how excited I was about the things of the Lord after being born again. I had been raised in church but never had a personal experience until I was a young adult. I wanted to read my Bible. I wanted to go to a vibrant church. I wanted to get away from religiosity and judging and manmade requirements about salvation. Sure I had a journey ahead of me and it was not all a bed of roses, but in these years since that day in 1975 I have stumbled a few times but the Lord has lifted me back up.  I just love sharing about Jesus with others and label me a Jesus freak, that is okay. 

Do you get excited about the Lord? Maybe you have been in same church all your life and really do not feel on fire or excited about Sunday at all. Maybe church is your hobby. It might be time to breakaway and find somewhere that you can come alive and grow in Christ. 

PRAYER: Lord you are good, all the time. I love you and I love your word. Forgive me for ever letting the world shape my thinking and not You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

A Very Special Birthday

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3

Today marks 40 years since I asked Jesus Christ into my heart as my Lord and Savior and became born again. My sister and I share the same day. We both had been baptized as children in about the 6th grade and were good church going kids but lacked the fire and understanding of making Jesus come alive and be real in our lives. Our parents did the right thing and laid the foundation as we did for our sons but each person must come to the Lord on their own timing and by the own choice. You need to ask the Lord to come into your heart.

Church membership does not mean Jesus is in your heart, nor does baptism, nor does baby dedication. To receive Christ you have to say something like this. "Jesus I am a sinner. I need you in my life. I want to give you my old self and start a brand new life living for you. Come into my heart. " Once that happens, at least for me, I had a hunger for the word of God. I wanted to read the Bible. I wanted to listen to Christian music. I wanted to go to Bible study.

Once Christ lives in your heart 2nd Corinthians 5:17 takes on new meaning. It says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here." Do you want a spiritual birthday?

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for making yourself real to me. I know the enemy has made attempts to deceive me and pulled me off course a couple times but I thank you that you pulled me out of the pit and made me new. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link and prepare to worship the Lord:

https://youtu.be/-TzDO7yt-Zo

He's Coming

 He said to them, "It is not for you to know the times or the dates the Father has set by His own authority." Acts 1:7

For years mankind has tried unsuccessfully to predict the end of the world and the coming of Jesus. Any one who knows anything about the word of God can tell you that no one knows or has a clue to His return. Right now with all the events going on in the Middle East many think we are very near. No one knows.

In the meantime we should be living our lives trying to win others to Christ and going about our daily business. Always be ready for He will return at a time you do not expect. Life will continue and prophecy will be fulfilled but still no one knows. We do know He promised He is coming back and He is, so be ready.

Do you know if you were to breathe your last breath on Earth you are going to heaven? If not why not ask Him to be your Lord and savior today. Don't be left behind.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I look forward some day to being with you in heaven for eternity but in the meantime I need to press on down here and do the work you have set for me to do. In Jesus' name. Amen.

AH HA MOMENTS

 Ah ha moments, we probably have all had them. The time something finally "clicks" and you are able to grasp something or see its' purpose.

There may be many sitting in churches and synagogues week after week who do it simply out of duty or because that is what their families taught then was the "right" thing to do. Maybe they assume by doing their "church" duty weekly that when they die, off they will go to heaven. There really not been an "ah ha" spiritual moment in their lives. They are not really excited about Jesus or desire to get to know Him more by reading His word,The Bible. This person is content just going through the motions each Sunday then the other 6 days are normal. They may feel those who "do church" on other days are a little over the top.

My "ah ha" moment came on 19 March 1975 when I became "born again" and re dedicated my life to the Lord. It did not mean I would never have problems or sin but I asked Jesus to truly be Lord of my life and for once got excited about reading my Bible. If you have not had that "ah ha" moment I pray it comes for you.

Matthew 7:21( NIV) says 'Not everyone who says to me "Lord Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven but only the one who does the will of my Father which is in heaven.'

Where is your heart today? Church is not the gateway to heaven but knowing Jesus is. My prayer is all reading this make Jesus Lord of their lives. This may even mean changing churches to do so. Why not ask Him to be Lord of your life today?

PRAYER: Lord I need you every hour not just one hour on Sunday. Forgive me for not giving you first place in my heart and life. In Jesus' name. Amen.