Appearing below right is a popular painting that has been viewed around the world. Take a good look at it….do you notice anything missing? There are many versions of this rendition showing Jesus Christ (1) knocking on the door and most of them have this very thing in common…..There's no outside doorknob!
 
Aside from rare exceptions such as Paul's (2) Damascus conversion, the message here is that Jesus doesn't barge into our lives. He is The Gracious Visitor who remains on the outside, awaiting our invitation for Him to come in. We were given free will to do as we please and, oftentimes, Jesus does not interfere with it.
 
Revelation 3:20-22: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
 
Have you invited Jesus Christ into your heart and into your life? For many, this is a big step, for it implies that we are surrendering control of our lives to Him. If we're used to being "in charge," giving up the driver's seat is not natural.
 
Maybe we were not raised to know Jesus. Perhaps we were, but then someone at a church hurt us- physically, emotionally, psychologically or otherwise- and it caused us to distance ourselves from Him. Whatever the case may be, Jesus desires to have a personal relationship with YOU. He doesn't just want you to spend an hour in His House on Sunday but then return to regularly secular programming until next Sunday. Jesus wants us to spend constant, quality time with Him just as we do with friends and family here on Earth. He already knows you,  for He created you (Jeremiah 1:5). But He wants you to get to know Him. If you're ready to take this step, and you believe that Jesus lived, was crucified (3), died (4) and was Resurrected (5) on the third day, we can help get you started….
 
John 3:16 says, “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." But Jesus didn't show up on the banks of the Jordan so He could later be crucified and resurrect for us to have boring, half-hearted, ho-hum lives. To the contrary. In John 10:10, Jesus proclaims, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Jesus wants us to live extraordinary lives! So. . . how does someone receive Jesus as their Savior?
 
Romans 10:9-13 tells us, "If you declare 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 your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes 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” (as  prophesied in Joel 2:32 hundreds of years before).
 
The benefit of our reliance solely upon Jesus was also prophesied about in Isaiah 28:16: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it, will never be stricken with panic.”
 
So, create an opportunity to spend some quiet time with Jesus...enjoy conversation with Him as you would a loved one...tell Him your heart's desire to receive Him as your Lord and Savior. Invite him in. Again, since He created it, He already knows what's on your heart but He rejoices in hearing your voice cry out to Him. By surrendering to Jesus Christ, John 14:12 tells us we are allowing Him to do amazing things with us!
 
If, after reading the above, you're ready to receive Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Savior and turn your life over to Him, we invite you to pray this simple yet soul-altering prayer (or similar words from your heart):
 
"Dear God,
I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness.
I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son.
I believe that He died for my sins and that You raised Him to life.
From this day forward, I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord.
Guide my life and help me to do Your will.
I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen."
 
After reading and praying the above, if you have decided to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, we welcome you to the Family of Followers! Amen!
 
Joshua 24:15: "But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

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If you're seeking additional info about Christianity on a more personal level, consider visiting a Christian Church here in Marion County (6). Introduce yourself to members and ask to speak with someone to learn more about Jesus. Surrendering your life to Christ (7) (b) is the most rewarding, everlasting decision you'll ever make, and it's comforting to have someone guide you as you begin your new life as a child of the Most High! May God shower you with great favor in this endeavor!
 

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Footnotes, Page Credits and External Resources appear below. Consider printing and sharing the offered PDF narrative and other listed resources with family, friends and strangers alike for use in Bible Studies (8), Home/Church Faith Sharing Groups (9), Discipleship Encounters (10) and/or Personal Faith Enrichment!
 
Modifications are welcome at [email protected].
 

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FOOTNOTES:
  (1) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/jesus-christ
  (2) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/ambassador-in-chains
  (3) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/crucifixion-of-christ
  (4) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/obituary-of-jesus
  (5) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/resurrection-of-jesus
  (6) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/listing-by-city
  (7) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/the-gracious-visitor
  (8) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/bible-studies
  (9) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/christian-education
(10) https://www.marionmannaproject.com/discipleship
 
PAGE CREDITS:
  (a) Bible Gateway, New International Version (NIV) Bible,
accessed September 18, 2020, https://www.biblegateway.com/
 
EXTERNAL RESOURCES:
  (b)  How Do I Convert to Christianity?, Got Questions Ministries, accessed January 12, 2020    https://www.gotquestions.org/convert-to-Christianity.html