The Best Birthday ever!
What do you think you'll get for your birthday this year? Maybe a nice card from someone who really cares about you? Perhaps a whole box of chocolates?
Chocolate is great but have you noticed how the best chocolates disappear so quickly? What would be a great birthday present if you were really sick? Wouldn't you be excited if you found a note with your present telling you about medicine that would make you well?
That's a little bit like God's note to us.(1) It tells us something that is worth more than all the chocolate in the world.(2) It tells about Jesus.(3)
The bible tells us that our world is in bad shape because of sin (all the wrong things we do).(4) But God loves us so much he sent his only son Jesus, to die on the cross and save us from sin.(5) After all, the only person who could pay the penalty for sin was a person who was sinless himself.(6) After paying the price by giving his life for us, Jesus rose from the dead and now lives in heaven!(7)
Jesus loves you more than you can ever imagine and he has a wonderful plan for your life.(8) When you open your heart to Jesus, amazing things happen. He takes your sins away.(9) Your guilt is gone!(10) He heals your heart and he stands by you.(11)
When you open your heart to Jesus, you want to do things that please Him.(12) You want to look out for your friends. You want to treat others with kindness.(13) If you invite Jesus into your heart, you will discover that God's little note to you was the best present ever.(14) You might even want to share it with your friends.(15)
We can talk to Jesus anytime about anything.(16) Here is a prayer to invite Jesus into your heart today.
Jesus, thank you for loving me and for dying on the cross for me. I want you to come into my heart.
Forgive my sin and show me how to live for you. Amen
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."
1 Peter 2:24
(1) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 4:16-17
(2) For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish. - 1 Peter 1:18-19
(3) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!..." - John 1:29
(4) Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. - 1 John 3:4
(5) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16
(6) But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. - 1 John 3:5
(7) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:2
(8) Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. - 1 John 4:8-10
(9) This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. - Matthew 26:28
(10) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. - 2 Timothy 1:7
(11) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. - Ephesians 1:13
(12) For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10
(13) Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. - Colossians 3:12-13
(14) That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with year heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." - Romans 10:9-13
(15) "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matthew 28:19
(16) "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." - Jeremiah 33:3