God created us with the need to love and be loved, and He alone can satisfy the deepest yearning of every human soul for total love and complete understanding. The things of this earth can satisfy the body, but only God and His eternal love can ever fill that aching spiritual void in our hearts, that space He created for Himself alone. The human spirit can never be completely satisfied with anything less than utter union with the great and loving Spirit that created it.
Would you like to have a satisfying personal relationship with the God of love? Not a formal, distant God who seeks religious ceremonies, but a God who loves you personally, and who wants to fill your life and heart with love, joy, and peace of minda God who wants to communicate with you, guide you through life, comfort you when you're down, replace your stress and worries with faith and confidence, teach you how to live in love and harmony with yourself and others, and give you answers and solutions when you need them.
On top of that, how about a guaranteed entrance into Heaven in the hereafter?
You can have these things today, and believe it or not, it's easy!
Try as we may, none of us are good enough to save ourselves and gain entrance to Heaven. The Bible says that "all have sinned and come short of the glory [redemption] of God" (Romans 3:23). But the good news is that God sent Jesus Christ to take the burden of mankind's sins on Himself, so that those who believe on Him and receive this free gift can find forgiveness for all their mistakes and sins, be reunited with God, and experience love and freedom forever in Heaven. "For God so loved the world [you and me] that He gave His only begotten Son [Jesus Christ], that whosoever believes in Him should not perish [be damned] but have everlasting life [Heaven forever]" (The Bible, John 3:16).
It may sound simple or even childlike, yet this is the plan by which the great Creator of the universe has chosen to reveal and bring His love, truth, and salvation to us all. He deliberately made it so simple that anybody can receive His love, regardless of race, religion, or social status.Anybody, anytime! In fact, receiving Jesus into your life is so simple that He said, "Unless you humble yourself and become as a little child, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven!" (The Bible, Mark 10:15).
Jesus loves you and will give you this wonderful gift right now if you will sincerely pray this little prayer, and ask Him to come into your heart:
"Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for me and that You love me. I now open my heart and ask You to come in. Forgive me for my past wrongs, and please give me Your gift of eternal life in Heaven. Fill me with Your love, peace, and joy, and help me learn to share that love and joy with others. Amen."
--------------------
If you've asked Jesus to come into your heart, you've begun a new spiritual life. The Bible says, "If anyone be in Christ, He is a new creation. Old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new!" (The Bible, 2 Corinthians 5:17).
As you embark on this spiritual journey, you will begin to discover God's love and truth, and learn how to apply it so that you can live a life with more love and peace. It's not complicated, but it does take effort and giving of yourself. Thankfully, God has provided plenty of instruction to help us find our way.
First, you need to connect with the Source of love, wisdom, and truth, through God's Son, Jesus. Communicate with Jesus and listen to His communication back to you. As you spend time in prayer, read what Jesus has to say, and listen to His voice in your heart, He will impart His love to you. It will become part of you. Little by little you will become more like Him. You'll become more loving. His love will spill out of you onto and into others.
Then as you grow and mature in Jesus' love, His Spirit within you will enable you to fulfill God's two greatest commandments, something humanly impossible, but possible with Him: love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself (The Bible, Matthew 22:37-39).
Second, the Bible compares receiving Jesus into our lives as being spiritually reborn. So as a spiritual "newborn," you will need nourishment in order to grow spiritually. The nourishment you need is God's Word: "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby" (The Bible, 1 Peter 2:2).
Here are some steps you can take to grow spiritually:
Read the Bible: Start with the story and words of Jesus in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). The Gospel of John in particular has the simplest and clearest rendition of Jesus' message of love.
Take a little time daily to stop and get quiet, connect with Jesus, receive His love, and find peace of mind. Get your priorities straight.
Share what you gain. Change your world. Start reaching out to others with God's love. Do something each day to help brighten someone else's life. Pray for others. Tell them about your personal spiritual discoveries and show them how they can find love too.
|