THE PATH OF LIFE
Dear Friend, I want to congratulate you and the great and life-changing decision you have made in following Christ! The Bible tells us that anyone (who) is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! It s a real privilege to have a small part in helping you with your decision. Inside this booklet you will find some thoughts that will help guide you on your journey with Christ. We would like to offer you one of two books. If this journey with Christ is a brand-new step, then request the book How Good is Good Enough. We have found this book to be a great read for new people to read about Jesus. If you are coming to Christ with what may be defined as a re-commitment, then we would recommend you request Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart. It will help you know how to be sure you are truly saved. To get one of these books go to salvation@jfc.org and request your book of choice. Please leave your email and a way to contact you. If you would like someone to talk with you about your decision to follow Christ, You can email us at salvation@jfc.org and someone from our discipleship team will contact you. God Bless, Pastor John Leach Jubilee Fellowship Founding Pastor
IT SHOULD BE A GREAT TRIP The best of journeys need a thought out road map. Before you were born, God had a wonderful laid out path just for you. There is a prophet in the Old Testament of the Bible by the name of Jeremiah. Although this passage is about his journey, it gives a great example of how God designed a path for each person. Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV) says, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 29:11-12 (NIV) says, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Before you were even formed in the womb, God had thought of you. Can you just imagine that? His intent for you was to prosper you and give you hope in the future. God says to just to call on him and he will listen. The question is, Do you believe you are living that life? If not read on...
DETOURS Have you ever asked yourself, How did I ever get on this wrong road? I think most of us would admit, at some time period in our lives, we are not living a life filled with hope and purpose. The very least, not on the path God had planned, right? So how did this happen? How, all of a sudden, does it seem we are way off base? In today s world we get so busy with life we can and do miss obvious road signs along the way. Then one day, for whatever reason, we wake up and realize, Wow, I am lost, really lost. This is not the road I intended to take. I feel so separated from God. The Bible describes it as sin. So let s look at what sin is? The Bible describes sin in 1 John 3:4 as a part of breaking of God s law. You can also look at it as a disobedience or rebellion against God or independence from God. The original translation is, to miss the mark, of God s holy standard of righteousness. We are stuck...
AT A CROSSROADS I would like to get back on a path of purpose with hope of a prosperous life, but not sure what I can do to get there? Ever ask yourself this? The truth is you cannot go back. You can do nothing about the past or earn a life with God. Depressing right? It would be if it were not for one amazing thing God did just for you. He said, I will take your sin and the separation from God. I ll take it to my grave in my love for you. Romans 5:8 (NIV) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Many people wonder, so what is the catch? Do I have to join a religious group or do some weird ritual thing? While this may be hard to grasp, the way back to God is really different from what you may know about God. It truly is His gift to you. And a gift is just that, something given without works or duty. God with all of His heart wants to draw us back to the straightest road, to a purpose He has for us. Grace from God is not something you earn, but receive. God tells us in Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. What is good to know is that the word grace means, undeserved favor. In truth God is offering yoau something you could never provide for yourself - a forgiveness of sins and eternal life. God s gift to you is absolutely, no strings attached, FREE! All you have to do is joyfully receive it; no guilt, no condemnation, no exchange for service. All it requires is believing, with all your heart, that Jesus died for you and took what we deserved upon Himself and, in turn, gave us what He deserved. He took the penalty of your sins on Himself!
CAN SOMEONE SHOW ME THE WAY? This journey back towards God is not a shot in the dark, with the hope we get there sooner or later. God knew it would be a perilous journey that needed a really good guide, so to speak, to help us along every step of the way. Picture this. You are coming up the road and at the end the path it splits and goes in two separate directions. Standing at the crossroads is this strange person who tells you which is the best way to go. He, apparently, is a real expert of the road ahead. Deep down, if you trusted, you would probably follow his direction, right? Jesus said in John 14:6 (NLT), I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. How about a step farther. What if you boldly trusted this guide and you let him ride with you? What if this person was someone you had heard about, along with a reputation of a great companion and friend? If we feel safe we would probably trust what was told, right? What a great feeling and peace of mind that would bring to have an expert guide us on the path ahead right by our side, all the way. Don t you think?
ON THE ROAD AGAIN This road, guided by a man named Jesus, gives us hope. It leads towards a purpose and with no better destination, ends in Heaven. He helps us, each and every step, back to Him and down a path of a more prosperous, peaceful, purpose-filled life. While the road may be curvy, bumpy and downright uncomfortable at times, Jesus is always there, as close as the mention of His name. All we have to do is accept His guidance, relish in His Grace and receive His unconditional love one step, mile, day at a time. Thank You LORD for accepting us, asking nothing in return, giving us an identity in you and fulfilling us with a purpose that brings such peace. Thank you for inviting, guiding and directing our paths along the way giving us hope and faith in the future. Thank you for LORD Jesus for taking what we deserved and giving us what you deserved by dying on that cross at Calvary. In Christ s name we pray, Amen.
YOU MAKE KNOWN TO ME THE PATH OF LIFE; YOU WILL FILL ME WITH JOY IN YOUR PRESENCE, WITH ETERNAL PLEASURES AT YOUR RIGHT HAND. - PSALMS 16:11 -