Casting our nets of salvation inside the church walls is not Jesus’ plan. He didn’t try to win souls in the temple. Instead, he reached out to those caught in the steely grip of their circumstances.
Jesus became human, because that was the only path to salvation for the human race. His Word presents five steps to success in him.
Step One:
He will find us wherever we happen to be.
In Matthew 3:1-2, John the Baptist preached in the desert of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
If we are drunken, abused, and downcast, he will come to us in our place of need. He will find us, even when we think no one can.
Step Two:
Our salvation is one we can depend on.
Turn to Hebrews 7:21. In this passage, we learn that Jesus is to be a priest forever, a permanent intercessor, one who will never give up on us.
Even if the world fights us on every side, Jesus will be there to stand by us. If we falter, he will pick us up. If we become broken, he will hold us to his side.
Step Three:
Our worldly problems do not determine our spiritual success.
The passage in Luke 13:1-4 tells of Galileans whose blood was mixed with Pilate’s sacrifices, then of eighteen who died when a tower in Siloam fell on them. Even so, Jesus says these bad things did not indicate they were guiltier than others living in Jerusalem.
Bad things happen to good people. This world is a fallen world. Whether we live for Christ or not, we will have problems.
In Luke 13:5, Jesus continues, “But unless you repent, you will all perish.”
It is our salvation that is important, and it is unconnected with the earthly problems that plague our lives.
Step Four:
Jesus wants us to bring our loved ones into the fold.
In Acts 2:38, not only does Peter tell us to repent and be baptized in order to receive the Holy Spirit, he then goes on to clarify that this promise is for us and our children.
Our salvation is a personal salvation, but it should not be a secret. We should desire to bring our families unto Jesus.
Step Five:
God has given us a mission field.
In Mark 1:17, while walking the shores of Galilee, Jesus took his missive to the next level. Not only did he call Simon and Andrew, then James and John, but he gave them his greatest promise.
“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
James and John showed us one of the best examples of true repentance in the Word, for it says they immediately left everything, and did as he commanded.
When we come to true repentance, we are willing to sacrifice everything to further God’s kingdom.
Jesus will find us in the depths of our despair, and he will never leave us, even though the world batters us. His greatest desire is for us to bring others into the kingdom to worship him.
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