Richard Roberts
I once had lunch with a man who had come to our office and I asked him during our conversation, “Have you ever been born again?”
He looked at me in surprise and said, “I go to church.” I knew that he had been raised in a mainline denominational church, and that he attended that same denomination regularly. I said, “You didn’t answer my question. Have you ever been born again?” He answered, “Well, I teach Sunday school.”
I said, “You still haven’t heard me. Have you received Jesus Christ into your life as your Savior and been born again by His Spirit?” Big tears welled up in his eyes and he said, “No.”
I said, “Why not?” He said, “Nobody has ever invited me to receive Christ in that way.”
I said, “Well, I’m inviting you now! Would you like to receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord?” He said, “You don’t know how much I’d like that!”
He put down his fork and I put down mine and I reached across the table to take his hand. Right then and there, I led him in a sinner’s prayer.
Friend, I’m asking you today right where you are, “Are you born again? Would you like to be? Will you pray with me today?” You can say this prayer out loud wherever you are! God will hear you if you speak to Him from the depths of your heart. You can start this year out right — and make it the first year of the rest of your life, and all eternity!
Dear Father in Heaven, I admit to You that I am a sinner. I need You in my life. I’m asking You to forgive me of my sins and to cleanse my life and to fill me with Your Spirit so that I might know You as I’ve never known You before. I ask You to give me the courage and strength to turn from my sins and to follow You every day of my life. Today, I take Jesus Christ as my Savior and my Lord. I pray this from the bottom of my heart…in the Name of Jesus. Amen!
