Hungry right now

Julio is hungry to receive the salvation that only Jesus Christ can give.  He met me in Robert unit of the RJC and asked, really begged, to meet with me.  He is more comfortable with Spanish but speaks some English so we moved slowly but effectively.

He knew he wanted to understand more.  He attends the Resurrection Church, a Spanish-speaking congregation, in Tukwila, where Juan is the pastor. One transition step is to ask him what it means to be a Christian.

Remembering that Julio and I were  struggling with a language obstacle, he said it meant "surrendering ...and giving the Lord 100%," looking for my approval.  He is using a Spanish Bible and was reading a little because he wasn't getting too much out of his reading.  He said he wasn't applying it to himself.

He said he tried to get through Matthew and was starting to read through Markos.  I took him on a brief tour of Matthew

:

4:17  The message of Jesus was "repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand"

4:1-17  Jesus wants you to hear, obey, and bear fruit

4:18-19  Jesus said, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men."

6:33  Jesus tells us to seek first His Kingdom and righteousness

7:21-25 Jesus is the Foundation Rock through te storms of life

28:19-20  Jesus wants us to be and make disciples of all nations

Mark 10:45 Jesus came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many

Surrendering and giving 100% is right-on but every believer first needs to receive and rest forever in what Jesus Christ has done once for all.  Jesus paid the price and did all the work.  Jesus took all our sins upon Himself at the cross--past, present, and future, ALL our sins, and covered us with His blood and clothed us with His righteousness-- that's called "the Great Exchange."

We moved to 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, the greatest news message of salvation in two verses:

"For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him."

2 Corinthians 6:1-3 brings the supernatural miracle work of salvation to right here, right now.

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says,“In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation..."

So, nothing else needs to be required to receive eternal life.  Jesus Christ died for us.  We can hear and obey the message of salvation.  

We can live with Jesus forever, starting right now.  

It is a Grace-Favorable Time right here, right now.

I prayed with Julio and he was ready.  He is studying a worksheet and answering the questions in Spanish.  He agreed to write his own prayer thanking Jesus for saving him,  when he is ready.







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