An Unexpected Re-birth

Fifteen years ago today, I was "born again!"

On March 15, 1995 a friend from Midway Baptist Church in Trussville, AL invited me to go with her and some friends to a presentation of Heaven's Gates and Hell's Flames at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Center Point, AL. My life would never be the same.

For the first time in my life I saw and understood what Jesus had done for me and what I needed to do to be saved - believe. That night I was born again.

I had grown up around other Christians and I knew much about the Bible and church, but I failed to see how God intended for it to make a difference in my life. I had failed to trust Christ with being the LORD of my life. I was "the boss" of my life and I intended to remain in control.

However, by God's sovereign grace, my eyes were opened to the truth that I was separated from God because of my choices, my immorality, my sin, and that I was incapable of saving myself. The payment for my sin was death and eternal separation from God. I could not earn my forgiveness, and I could never be free from the power of sin without Jesus Christ setting me free.

Now I praise God with all that I am because on that very night I understood that Jesus had already paid for my sin!

My part was simply to believe that Jesus had taken my punishment, and receive His gift of forgiveness and eternal life. WOW!

I did just that. And, I distinctly remember saying something like, "Lord, please forgive me of my sin. I give You my heart and my life - everything I am - it's Yours. I surrender to You."

My response to the experience of being "Born Again" was and is total gratitude. In looking back at it, I know I was completely helpless and hopeless on my own. Even the faith to believe was a gift.

I didn't cause my second birth. He did. He pursued me and had been for the first half of my life - 15 years. Once I reached the age I could understand, I rejected him over and over. Yet, he was merciful and never gave up on me.

Thank you, Father, for Your amazing love!

Thank you, Jesus, for making a way by Your own blood.

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for Your relentless pursuit of my sinful soul.

Thank you, dad and mom, for taking me to church and doing your best to teach me as a child.

Thank you, friend (wherever you are), for inviting me that night.

And, thank you, brothers and sisters in Christ, for helping me in a thousand ways grow to be more like Christ.

The first 15 years knowing Christ have changed everything about me. After today, I'll have walked with Jesus longer that I walked without Him and I can't wait to experience what's next!

Those of you who are reading this: Jesus loves you and wants to save you too. Jesus has a great plan for your life. You can be born again just like I was fifteen years ago. God could very well be using this letter to open your eyes to these same truths. Only you can know. Either way, I'm praying for you!

Please let me know if there is a more specific prayer I can pray for you bj@bjprice.org.

In Christ Alone!

I WIll Set Before My Eyes No Vile Thing (Psalm 101)

Today's full One Year Bible readings:
Judges 11:1-12:15 ~ John 1:1-28 ~ Psalm 101:1-8 ~ Proverbs 14:13-14

Psalm 101 offers the worshiper careful encouragement and instruction for leading a life of holiness.

I remember encountering lust and the sins of the flesh as a young teenager and struggling to develop self control. Every human being on the planet (with rare exception) knows exactly what I'm talking about.

Thankfully, God does not abandon us to figure things out on our own. In fact, He directs us through His Word by giving us examples to learn from and follow, and "fighter verses" to sharpen and rescue our minds in the heat of the battle. Verse 3 of Psalm 101 has been one such "fighter verse" for me.

¹ I will sing of your love and justice;
to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.

² I will be careful to lead a blameless life—
when will you come to me?
I will walk in my house
with blameless heart.

³ I will set before my eyes
no vile thing.
The deeds of faithless men I hate;
they will not cling to me.

⁴ Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;
I will have nothing to do with evil.

Psalm 101:4

Today, as an act of worship, commit God's Word to memory, and be prepared to respond to the enemy; resist the Devil and flee from evil. Keep in mind there's a time to fight and a time to run - know the difference!

For Others (Psalm 69 - Part 1 of 2)

Friday, March 27, full One Year Bible readings:
Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20 ~ Luke 7:36-8:3 ~ Psalm 69:1-18 ~ Proverbs 12:1

Psalm 69 inspires me to be mindful of others, especially how my sin affects others. Notice how, in the following verses, the worshiper intercedes for the well being of others even when he is faced with the reality of his own sin.

⁵ You know my folly, O God;
my guilt is not hidden from you.

⁶ May those who hope in you
not be disgraced because of me,
O Lord, the LORD Almighty;
may those who seek you
not be put to shame because of me,
O God of Israel.

⁷ For I endure scorn for your sake,
and shame covers my face.

⁸ I am a stranger to my brothers,
an alien to my own mother's sons;

⁹ for zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.

Psalm 69:5-9

Today, as an act of worship, be honest with yourself and the Lord over the effects of sin in your life. Intercede for those closest to you - that they may be spared the painful repercussions of your failures.