How to Receive the Gift of Joy

1. God Loves You. Realize that God loves you and desires a life of joy for you:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16, KJV).

Not only did God tell you that he loves you, but he proved his love by sending his Son to die for you! His love is also expressed by the full and high quality life he has planned for you now—as well as in the life to come. Jesus said,

The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10, NIV).

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23, KJV).

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23, NIV).

All human substitutes for joy fall short. They cannot fill the God-shaped void in the human heart. How do we become reconciled with God and experience the full and joy-filled life?

3. Jesus Christ Is God's Answer. Jesus Christ is God's only provision to forgive our sin, set us free and give us a full and joy-filled life. Jesus died for us—he took our penalty of death:

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us [italics mine] (Romans 5:7-8, NIV).

Christ is the only way to God:

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life, No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6, NIV).

It is not enough to know that God loves you, that sin has cut you off from God and that Jesus Christ is the only way to God.

4. You Must Receive Christ As Your Lord and Savior. You must personally receive Christ as your Lord and Savior. The Bible states that,

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God (John 1:12-13, NIV).

You receive Christ by faith:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so no one can boast, For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV).

If you choose to receive the truth about Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit will give you faith to trust him as your personal Savior. Then, when you receive Christ, the Holy Spirit will give you a spiritual rebirth. Jesus called this being born again:

You should not be surprised at my saying,'You must be born again' (John 3:7, NIV).

This is the most important experience that you will ever have. God will set you free and he will bring new life into your being. This new life will make you more like the Lord Jesus.

Christ stands at your heart's door, but you must open the door:

Look! I have been standing at the door and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20, The Living Bible).

You can receive Christ in your heart right now. Pray this prayer from your heart:

Almighty God, I confess that I have sinned against you. I ask you to forgive me. I receive Christ as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Tell someone that you have accepted Christ as your Savior. Please email me and tell me the good news also.

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