STRESS RELIEF for Firefighters & Paramedics from Chaplain Skip

God's Love

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16 )

God's Plan

Jesus said, "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly" (that it might be full and meaningful) (John 10:10)

So why is it that most people are not experiencing the abundant life? Because...

Man is SINFUL and SEPARATED from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life.

Man is Sinful

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is evidence of what the Bible calls sin.

Man is Separated

"For the [result] of sin is death"--spiritual separation from God (Romans 6:23)

The diagram below illustrates that God is holy and man is sinful. A great gulf separates the two. The arrows show that man is continually trying to reach God and the abundant life through his own efforts, such as living a good life, following specific philosophies or religions, etc.

Man tries to reach God

The third law explains the only way to bridge this gulf...

Law 1 | Law 2

Jesus Christ is God's ONLY provision for Man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life.

He Died in Our Place

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)

He Rose from the Dead

"Christ died for our sins... He was buried... He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures... He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred..." (I Corinthians 15:3-6)

He is the Only Way to God

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.'" (John 14:6)

The diagram below illustrates that God has bridged the gulf which separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.

It is not enough just to know these three laws.

The Fourth Law is essential...

Law 1 | Law 2 | Law 3

We must individually RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.

We Must Receive Christ

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12)

We Receive Christ Through Faith

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

When we receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth

"I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Do not be surprised when I say you must be born again. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." (see John 3:1-8)

We Receive Christ by Personal Invitation

Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him." (Revelation 3:20)

Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us the kind of people He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of will.

The two diagrams below represent two kinds of lives, the self-directed life and the Christ-directed life:

The Self-Directed Life

The Christ-Directed Life

Which circle best represents your life?

Which circle would you like to have represent your life?

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer

(Prayer is talking with God)
God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. The following is a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I need you. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?
If it does, pray this prayer right now, and Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.

I am thrilled that you have decided to follow Christ and would love to help you grow as a Christian. Contact me at skip@emergencychaplain.org