The most important step you can take… is the step toward Jesus. Not cleaning yourself up first. Not figuring everything out. Not getting your life together. Just coming to Him. Because a lot of people think this journey starts with what they do… but it doesn’t.

It starts with what He’s already done. - Pastor Seth

Scripture

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. - Ephesians 2:8–9

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

Teaching

Everything begins with grace.

Before you attended a service. Before you clicked this devotional. Before you ever thought about God — He was already thinking about you.
The Gospel is not advice about how to live better. It is good news about what Jesus has already done. You were not rescued because you were strong enough. You were rescued because He is loving enough.

Sometimes we try to add to the Gospel. We think we need to “prove” ourselves worthy. But grace cannot be earned. It can only be received.

If you build your faith on your effort, you will live exhausted.
If you build your faith on His finished work, you will live secure.

Today is about resting in what has already been accomplished.

You don’t start your journey with striving.
You start with surrender.

Following Jesus is when you stop (or surrender) doing life your way and start doing life God’s way.

It’s when you retire from being the boss of your life and let Jesus be the new CEO. God made us and gave us a “user’s guide” (or “instruction manual”) called the Bible so we’d know how to best live. We often live however we want doing “whatever feels good” but God wants us to live according to his will revealed in his Word. Removing restraint from your life (living however YOU want) may seem like an exciting adventure, but it inevitably leads to tragedy. It’s a lot like removing the brakes from your car. That may be daring and filled with thrills for a while, but injury is certain. Take away the brakes and your life, like your car, is transformed into an unguided missile-destined for disaster.

Proverbs 14:12 says “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”

It may seem natural at times to do whatever we please, but that leads to death in this life and in the life to come. Living God’s way leads to a fulfilled life now, and eternal life later. Since God made you he has every right to instruct you how to live. Only He knows what’s truly best for you. Following Jesus is all about coming to that realization – that God knows best since he made you. From that realization comes a changed life.

How? You start living by God’s standards and God’s guidelines for your life instead of your own. This pleases God and benefits you. You will always have an internal void, an emptiness in your soul, when you live life for your own pleasure, rather than for God’s.

If you have never said Yes to Jesus, you can surrender your life to Him right now!

Saying Yes to Jesus is as easy as ABC.

(A) Admit the fact that you need Him in your life.

(B) Believing that Jesus died on the cross for all your past, present, and future sins and that He rose again.

(C) Confess with your mouth and invite Him into your life.

Please pray this prayer: Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner in need of a savior. I repent for trying to live this life on my own. I Believe that you love me and died for all my sins and that you rose from the dead. I confess you as my Lord and Savior and invite you to come into my life. In Jesus Name, Amen!

You now have a new relationship with God and a new future. All Heaven is rejoicing, and we are too! Welcome to the family! Congratulations!