So your life is falling apart. I know, you lost something. You lost your job, or you lost your wife in a divorce, or you lost your father, mother, son, or daughter because they died, or you lost your health. So now you’re in pain, and not the kind that an aspirin can help you with. You’re in the kind of pain that makes you realize you need help–from God.
Well I’m here to tell you some things you’ve probably never heard before about becoming a Christian. You want God’s help, so you’re ready to ask Jesus Christ into your life, but you probably don’t realize what you’re in for. It’s not like you’re buying a gold fish for yourself, throwing him into a bowl of water, and feeding him once a day. Yes Jesus can help you, but remember, He’s the One Who created you. He’s the One Who created the whole world, and more than the world He created the sun and the whole solar system. And more than the solar system, He created the whole galaxy. And more than the galaxy, He created the whole universe. He created quarks, and black holes, and oceans, and mountains, and atoms, and electrons, and clouds, and comets. When you invite Him into your life, yes, you get His help, but along with the power to help you, you get the rest of His power too. He will willingly walk with you through your pain, if you’re brave enough to willingly walk with Him. It takes courage to invite that kind of power into your life.
Another thing about Him: His standards are impossibly high, and you’ll never live up to those standards. Like all of us, you realize you’ve failed in your life. At one time or another, maybe very recently, you’ve lied, or you’ve stolen, or you’ve lusted, or you’ve broken a promise. Other religions try to teach you how to live, but with Christ, God provides you with life. God of course knows about your sins. So God provided His Son Jesus, to die for those sins, on your behalf. Jesus is life. He is the way, the truth, and the life.
You have access to that life, to eternal life, to new life. You have access to Jesus Christ. You can not only experience God’s presence while walking in your pain, but you can experience God’s presence forever. You can live, with Him, in heaven. In fact, God says: If you don’t want to live with Me in heaven, it will have to be over My dead body–the dead body of My Son. If you accept Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for your sins, if you accept Jesus Christ into your life, if you ask Jesus Christ into your heart, to be your savior, and your Lord, and your friend, then you’ll receive God’s presence in this life, and in eternity.
To accept Him now as your personal Lord and savior simply say the prayer,
Jesus, I’m a sinner. I believe you died on the cross to pay for my sins and I thank you for doing that. I believe you rose again and that you are the Son of God. Please come into my life and into my heart. Be my Lord and my Savior.
The words aren’t magical, what’s important is you opened your heart to invite Jesus into your life. And that’s the beginning.
Now find yourself a bible and read it. (I recommend these bible reading plans on the YouVersion App) Don’t worry about how much you read. Just be sure to read a little from the Old and New Testaments each day.
Find yourself a church that teaches through the entire Bible and attend it. Hang out with other Christians–you’ll be blessed.
Pray, every day.
Tell others about Jesus.
If you have questions, send me an email at kurt@kurtbennettbooks.com.
[Image via Tim Li – Creative Commons]
Like this:
Like Loading...
A Time to Die
It’s Time to Die
The last post was about how important it is not to die indiscriminately. In other words the last post was for people who can’t say no, as you might gather from the title: How Not to Become a Christian Doormat.
This post is probably more important and for a greater number because this post is for all of us who don’t want to die. And at some point everyone of us will have to. I’m not talking about the physical death of our bodies necessarily, but rather the time when the Holy Spirit will tell you, “Yes, it’s time. It’s your time to die now. It’s your time to submit to My will and not your own.”
You and I and every single one of us will encounter God in that way. Every single one of us will be called upon by God to die, and frequently.
Frequently because we’re commanded to love, and love so often demands that we die to our own will. And there are all kinds of ways to do that, there are all kinds of ways to die. You might be called to die by allowing that guy at work to take the choice assignment, or by agreeing to your wife buying a new pair of shoes, or even by simply turning off the TV and engaging with the kids.
Or, it could be something much harder.
A Tale of Two Fathers Read More
Share now:
Like this:
Leave a Comment
Posted on November 23, 2013 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Commentary, Bible Study, How Jesus Loved People - How You Can Too, Marriage
Christian, deny yourself, die to self, die to self Christian, Jesus, Love like Jesus, take up your cross
How Not to Become a Christian Doormat–How to know when to die (From the new book Love Like Jesus: Chapter 28)
Doormat
Content from this article is from the new book Love Like Jesus: How Jesus Loved People (and how you can love like Jesus). For more articles included in the book go to Love Like Jesus Book. Love Like Jesus is due to be published in February of 2020.
A Dormitory Door Mat
There are these two roommates Walter and Craig who live on the fifth floor of the Barnhart dormitory at the University of Oregon. Craig is on the football team. He’s pretty sure he’s one of the best athletes on campus. He’s really into his sport and his friends, like a lot of guys are during their college years. Two of his favorite hangouts are the weight room and wherever the current party happens to be. He’s a Grand Theft Auto and Madden NFL kind of guy.
But his roommate Walter is different. He’s kind of bookish, if you know what I mean. He’s a good student. He belongs to the college writing club. He’s watched all the Lord of the Rings movies multiple times—on Blue Ray. He’s an English major but he’s taking a physics class, just for fun. He’s more of a Minecraft kind of a guy.
Well one day Craig has a chance to move into an apartment off campus. The day the apartment comes open is the day before a home game, and he wants to move in right away so he can have a victory party after the game. He already invited a bunch of his friends. Getting people to come to his party was no problem. But getting people to help him move wasn’t working out. Not a single friend was available. So, even though he very much preferred not to, he asked Walter.
“Hey, I need you to help me move my stuff over to the apartment.”
“I’d like to but I can’t,” Walter said. “I have a midterm and a group project presentation tomorrow.” He also said yes to a request to give a presentation at his writer’s club right after the midterm. And his parents were arriving for a visit after writer’s club. But Walter was too embarrassed to disclose that to Craig.
“I don’t really see a problem,” Craig said. “I only need you for like, one hour.”
Walter didn’t respond but Craig could see the reluctance on his face.
“Come on Walter, don’t be selfish.”
For some reason every time Walter experienced a pang of guilt he thought of the dentist’s needle injecting lidocaine into his gums. Except instead of his gums, he imagined the needle penetrating his heart. And instead of pain followed by numbness, there was just pain. Craig had a knack for triggering that response in Walter. So did his dad. So did his mother. So did a lot of people.
And there was that word: selfish. A Christian can’t be selfish, can he? Read More
Share now:
Like this:
16 Comments
Posted on November 16, 2013 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Commentary, Bible Study, How Jesus Loved People - How You Can Too, Marriage, Suffering
assertive Christian, assertiveness, bully, bullying, die to self, doormat Christian, Holy Spirit, How not to be a doormat, how to receive the Holy Spirit, pushover Christian
What Happens When We Disregard the Laws of the Universe
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.
A Deer Disregards Sir Isaac Newton
I was walking in my neighborhood the other morning and came across the skeletal remains of the deer in this photo. You know, if the deer was still alive, we might say to her, “Don’t cross that highway because you might get hit by a car.”
And the deer might reply (assuming of course, that the deer could understand English), Read More
Share now:
Like this:
Leave a Comment
Posted on November 12, 2013 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Commentary, Bible Study, I Wish Someone Had Told Me This When I Was Young
Christian, consequences of sin, Salvation, wages of sin, wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, what happens when I sin
Calling a Christian a Pharisee
Emil Nolde – Pharisees (1900)
Calling a Christian a Pharisee
I heard a great bible study Wednesday night and I want to encourage you to listen to it. Just click on 2 Chronicles 17:1-19:3 11-06-13 W7101 by Jon Courson.
The reason I’m so interested in you checking out this study is because one of the issues addressed is the use of the word pharisee to describe Christians. And I am guilty of using that word, in that manner.
And I was wrong.
It happened the same day as the aforementioned evening bible study. That morning Read More
Share now:
Like this:
3 Comments
Posted on November 9, 2013 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Commentary, Bible Study, I Wish Someone Had Told Me This When I Was Young
calling a Christian Pharisee, Christian, Christian blogger, Christian living, Pharisee
The Cross with Billy Graham, LeCrae, and Lacey Sturm
I’m always on the lookout for great videos and sadly, so many of them are yawners. Which is why I was surprised at the impact and quality of this one. Especially after the 5 minute mark where we hear two great stories about 34 year old LeCrae and 32 year old Lacey Sturm. You’ll want to check it out.
The Cross, with Billy Graham, LeCrae, and Lacey Sturm.
This could be the last significant communication we see from Billy Graham.
Share now:
Like this:
1 Comment
Posted on November 7, 2013 by Kurt Bennett
I Wish Someone Had Told Me This When I Was Young
Billy Graham, Christian, Flyleaf, how do I become a Christian, Lacey Sturm, Lacey Sturm testimony, Lecrae, LeCrae testimony
What It Means When We Work Without Rest
Work without rest.
I saw these math equations today on a blog I started following recently.
Work – Rest = Trust in self.
Work + Rest = Trust in God.
If you’re interested, you can read the rest of the post here: Your Faith in Math by SammyA. I thought he pretty much nailed it.
Share now:
Like this:
5 Comments
Posted on November 6, 2013 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Commentary, Bible Study, I Wish Someone Had Told Me This When I Was Young, Suffering
Christian, Christian living, rest, sabbath, Stress, Stress Rest Christian, Sunday
So Your Life Is Falling Apart
Well I’m here to tell you some things you’ve probably never heard before about becoming a Christian. You want God’s help, so you’re ready to ask Jesus Christ into your life, but you probably don’t realize what you’re in for. It’s not like you’re buying a gold fish for yourself, throwing him into a bowl of water, and feeding him once a day. Yes Jesus can help you, but remember, He’s the One Who created you. He’s the One Who created the whole world, and more than the world He created the sun and the whole solar system. And more than the solar system, He created the whole galaxy. And more than the galaxy, He created the whole universe. He created quarks, and black holes, and oceans, and mountains, and atoms, and electrons, and clouds, and comets. When you invite Him into your life, yes, you get His help, but along with the power to help you, you get the rest of His power too. He will willingly walk with you through your pain, if you’re brave enough to willingly walk with Him. It takes courage to invite that kind of power into your life.
Another thing about Him: His standards are impossibly high, and you’ll never live up to those standards. Like all of us, you realize you’ve failed in your life. At one time or another, maybe very recently, you’ve lied, or you’ve stolen, or you’ve lusted, or you’ve broken a promise. Other religions try to teach you how to live, but with Christ, God provides you with life. God of course knows about your sins. So God provided His Son Jesus, to die for those sins, on your behalf. Jesus is life. He is the way, the truth, and the life.
You have access to that life, to eternal life, to new life. You have access to Jesus Christ. You can not only experience God’s presence while walking in your pain, but you can experience God’s presence forever. You can live, with Him, in heaven. In fact, God says: If you don’t want to live with Me in heaven, it will have to be over My dead body–the dead body of My Son. If you accept Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for your sins, if you accept Jesus Christ into your life, if you ask Jesus Christ into your heart, to be your savior, and your Lord, and your friend, then you’ll receive God’s presence in this life, and in eternity.
To accept Him now as your personal Lord and savior simply say the prayer,
The words aren’t magical, what’s important is you opened your heart to invite Jesus into your life. And that’s the beginning.
Now find yourself a bible and read it. (I recommend these bible reading plans on the YouVersion App) Don’t worry about how much you read. Just be sure to read a little from the Old and New Testaments each day.
Find yourself a church that teaches through the entire Bible and attend it. Hang out with other Christians–you’ll be blessed.
Pray, every day.
Tell others about Jesus.
If you have questions, send me an email at kurt@kurtbennettbooks.com.
[Image via Tim Li – Creative Commons]
Share now:
Like this:
1 Comment
Posted on November 2, 2013 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Commentary, Bible Study
become a Christian, depression, divorce, how do I become a Christian, how to become a Christian, Jesus, Jesus Christ, loss
Love Like Jesus–Jesus and Competition
Competition
Baseball Player Lines
The World Series is happening right now and it reminds me of a story I once heard from a Fire Chief named Dennis Compton. Like me, Dennis is a Cubs fan. (Please pray for us, and for the Cubbies as well.) And one year he was excited and filled with hope, because the Cubs had this hot new player named Rafael Palmeiro. Palmeiro had just finished a close second to Tony Gwynn in the National League batting champion race, and it looked like his potential was off the chart. So what do the Cubs do? They trade him to the Texas Rangers. Well Compton was so upset about it, he telephoned the Cubs’ sports psychologist, who happened to be a friend of his, and invited him to lunch so he could find out just what in the world the Cubs’ management was thinking.
This sports psychologist had an interesting way of explaining the situation. He drew these lines on a piece of paper. Then he explained Read More
Share now:
Like this:
3 Comments
Posted on October 26, 2013 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Commentary, Bible Study, How Jesus Loved People - How You Can Too, Marriage
Christian living, Christianity, Dennis Compton, gentle, Humility, Jesus, Jesus and competition, Love like Jesus, Rafael Palmeiro
An Open Letter to Christian Type A Men
It’s better to do less and reflect the nature of Christ, than it is to accomplish more in an un-Christlike manner.
I know what you’re thinking: “What about the fruit? Isn’t it important to bear fruit? The bible says to bear fruit!”
True, the bible does say to bear fruit. But Read More
Share now:
Like this:
7 Comments
Posted on October 23, 2013 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Commentary, Bible Study, How Jesus Loved People - How You Can Too, I Wish Someone Had Told Me This When I Was Young
Christian time management, fruit of the Spirit, living water, love, Love like Jesus, time management
Jeffrey Wright Loves Like Jesus
This guy is a great example of someone who loves like Jesus! You’ll want to watch until the video covers how he loves his own son–he sets an especially amazing example there.
Wright’s Law, Jeffrey Wright loves like Jesus
Jeffrey Wright is one of the craziest teachers I have ever heard of. His antics in his high school physics class include lighting his hand on fire (on purpose), sending students on a homemade hovercraft ride (without steering), and blowing up a pumpkin (in the classroom). As one student said, “He is exploding with fun!” His students are never bored, even those who normally fall asleep in the rest of their classes. He also has a heart to help kids from disadvantaged backgrounds: Students who cover their bruises with make up because they’re taking beatings at home from their dad. Students who are pregnant. Students without a mom or dad in the home. He’s amazing. As one person put it, “Mr. Wright has the keys to the city!”
Jeffrey Wright loves his students. But he loves his son Adam even more. When Adam Read More
Share now:
Like this:
4 Comments
Posted on October 19, 2013 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Commentary, Bible Study, How Jesus Loved People - How You Can Too, I Wish Someone Had Told Me This When I Was Young
Christian living, Christianity, Jeffrey Wright, Jeffrey Wright teacher, Love like Jesus, Wright's Law, Wright's law Jeffrey Wright loves like Jesus
Jesus and Naps
Jesus napped. (Luke 8:22-23) Seems kind of weird to think about that, doesn’t it?
And he not only napped, but he also walked regularly, exercised if you will. And he not only napped and walked, but he didn’t eat fast food or processed food either. (Okay, so there wasn’t any fast food or processed food when he was walking the planet, but still, it’s true.) The point is, when Jesus was in human form like you and me, he took care of his human body.
I see so many today taking care of their bodies but in a way that becomes consuming and obsessive. The focus of their life is their diet, or their sleep rhythms, or their exercise program. And that’s not the way Jesus did it. The point of taking care of our bodies isn’t to become obsessed with diet, or sleep cycles, or exercise. The point of taking care of our bodies is to do it, so we can do more for God’s kingdom.
So yes, take care of your body. Rest, eat right, exercise. But do it as an investment of your talents. Then take the return on that investment and use it to bear fruit for your Father in heaven. (Matthew 25:14-30)
Jesus did.
You can too.
[You might also like Love Like Jesus–Diet, Exercise, and Rest. Really?]
[Image via buhny – Creative Commons]
Share now:
Like this:
5 Comments
Posted on October 16, 2013 by Kurt Bennett
How Jesus Loved People - How You Can Too
Jesus diet, Jesus exercise, Jesus nap, Jesus rest
Love Like Jesus–A Quarterback for Christ Responds to an “Accuser”
David was just a kid, but he was on a roll. He was a rookie in Israel’s military but performing like a superstar. Every time he went out on a campaign he lit it up. The army grunts loved him, the officers loved him, the people loved him–he captured the imagination of the nation. If Twitter were around in those days the top trending hashtag would have been #David.
He was an amazing man, David. And multi-talented too, because not only was he Israel’s superstar warrior, but he was also one of their best musicians. Sometimes king Saul would have him play at the palace, performing a private concert just for him. But Saul wasn’t well. He was sometimes overcome with a spirit of evil intent toward David, born of envy. One of those times he picked up his spear and threw it at David, in an attempt to pin him against the wall and kill him. David responded by eluding Saul’s spear and fleeing. Then it happened again, and again David didn’t retaliate but, simply evaded Saul’s spear and fled. David would not raise his hand against Saul for anything. (1 Samuel 18)
How Jesus Loved People
Speaking of Jesus, Matthew 27 says,
So Jesus is under fire. The religious leadership of his day is cranking out false accusations like only politicians can. And they’re the government, so there are consequences, serious consequences. And the way Jesus handles it is to say nothing in response. He doesn’t defend himself, not even against one single false charge.
An NFL Quarterback, a Fire Chief, and a Pastor
A friend who used to work security in a football stadium told me about this encounter he saw between a Chicago Bears’ quarterback and a homeless guy. Read More
Share now:
Like this:
10 Comments
Posted on October 12, 2013 by Kurt Bennett
Bible Commentary, Bible Study, How Jesus Loved People - How You Can Too
accusation, Bill Wade, Christian, Christian living, criticism, Love like Jesus, responding to accusation, responding to criticism, Tebow, Tim Tebow
Signup for the inside scoop and the latest blog posts
TRENDING
Categories