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The ABCs OF Christian Survival and Growth: The Outline - Reviewing Step 1.A.

If you've come this far with me, I hope you'll understand that I too am His work in progress. He's called my attention to the fact that I have the natural ability to overload people and put them to sleep. It's so hard for me to condense the fullness of what He shares with my heart sometimes. But with His help I'll try to do better starting with this. I love you, so please bear with me.

So far we've really identified 3 necessary elements of Christian life. The first one, I assumed that you were already aware of if you're reading this and the other 2 I expounded on. But I need to do a little more justice to all 3 in more concise form, so let's review beginning with the real #1- Salvation. Let's make sure we have things in proper context and the car set on the right road from the beginning.

Here's the outline for our next conversations (Jesus help me be brief and to the point):

Initial Salvation = The beginning of a relationship

A. Recognition and belief in who Christ is
B. Recognition and confession of who we are
C. Acceptance of Christ as the necessary sacrifice in our place - our savior

We'll start here - A. Recognition and belief in who Christ is

I have to point out that many Christians seem to miss the reality and fact that our salvation is more than just - JesusdiedformeI'mforgivenHesmySaviornowI'mgoodtogoWHEW! - It's the beginning of a r-e-l-a-t-i-o-n-s-h-i-p with ... THE God. You made a ... dare I say the scary dirty word? ... COMMITTMENT. And you didn't make this committment to just to any one. You made this committment ... to God. Take a minute and wrap your mind around that. Just think about who God is - you know - the one who made every thing in heaven and earth, including, heaven and earth.

Scripture tells us in John chapter 1 that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made" (KJV). This ... is Jesus! This is who you're dealing with and have made a committment to. This is who you've invited into the car with you. The one and only begotten Son of God - intially, an only child. THE only child of God, who is the sole heir to all that Father God posses ... that is ... until now. If you think about it, you'll realize that this Jesus is the one by scripture, who has such great and unfathomable power, that the sound of His voice alone - His mere words, brought the earth, the heavens and everything in them into being. This ... is Jesus.

Now bearing this in mind, how have you treated this invited guest in your car so far? Have you honored Him as God or just treated Him as a necessary passenger? Have you ignored Him? Did you offer to let Him drive or have you assumed so far that you have the better skills to navigate the road of your life? Here's the first of my direct helps to you to get your car on the right path: This is the King over all Kings, The Creator of all that exists! If you haven't done so yet, - GET YOUR BUTT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT!

Given all that He is, in spite of all of the greatest of all great titles and power that He holds, His heart toward you is still tender despite what's transpired between you so far. He's proven that by His willingness to sacrifice His own life, to take the reward you deserved and die in your place knowing you would make mistakes. If you realize that you haven't given Him the respect and attention He deserves - TELL HIM! His heart's longing to hear from yours and He'll readily forgive you so that you can be united as one in the most astoundingly beautiful relationship you could ever want to have. If you haven't truly made Him the Lord, the one and only King of kings over your life, then do it now! If you don't get this right ... you're not going anywhere on His path - you're only fooling yourself. Get in your little phone booth, your quiet place of prayer and pick up the red phone - the direct line to His heart. Pour your heart out to Him. Tell Him who He is to you. Tell Him that you're ready to give Him His proper place in your life and to let Him drive. It's never too late and He never holds a grudge. He knows who He is and He knows who you are. He's just waiting lovingly and patiently for you to figure it out - and get it right. He wants nothing more, and nothing less than to be the greatest love of your life ... to be your everything.

P.S.: You may have noticed that I said Initial Salvation at the beginning. Remember this. We'll talk about this later.

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