People saved from a life of sin, from adulterous relationships, from the liquor, the drugs, pornography, selfish ambitions and pride. Lives renewed, set upon a new course, on a new path for the glory of God because of the grace of God through Jesus Christ. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20)
Now what?
Whether you were on your knees or seated in a chair, when you gave your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, when the Holy Spirit entered into you, you were changed, all your sins, past, present and future were forgiven, but now what? Perhaps it’s all you know, perhaps you were just recently saved by His grace yourself, but if you have been blessed to be the instrument that the Lord has chosen to use to call one of His lost sheep home, its necessary for you to offer some instructions, some answer must be given to that one whose heart has just been changed, to their question, many times asked while wiping away tears of joy from their face of “Now what?”
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)
Read the Bible would be your initial response, suggest certain books from the Word of God, Genesis and the four books of John in the New Testament is always a good place to start, along with a daily dose of Proverbs and the Psalms. If you have the opportunity and are living in a place that is geographically of the same location, offer to visit with them regularly, if not perhaps an exchange of telephone numbers, if that option is available to the both of you.
“Now what” is always answered with “Seek the face of God.”
Prayer is heard by the Lord from those who diligently seek His will in their lives, and always answered according to His will and for His glory. “You serve a new Master as of today” will be gladly accepted by them from you if indeed they have truly repented of their sins, and they will seek Him with all their heart.
I expect that you may have thought that your first response to this new brother or sister in Christ should be to tell them to find a good church, but I hesitate in this area, for they are today few and far between, and someone who has just been changed by the Lord may indeed be ambitious to serve, but has, most likely, a very limited knowledge of the Scriptures, and could quite easily be led astray by either a works-based religious organization, a traditions-based “church” who are so set in their ways that they cannot see they no longer serve the Risen Savior, or any of the many buildings with a cross in it somewhere as the only representation that those that fill the pews could ever be considered “Christians.”
Of course, you would pray for them to be led to a true house or group of worshippers who submit willingly to the Sovereignty of the Most High, but all who desire to serve in love, to lead a life of humility, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified,” (1 Cor. 2:2) must start with the truth, the inerrant Word of God.
The fellowship of born-again believers is needed, of this there is no doubt, we are to be accountable to each other as well as hold them responsible to the truths of the Scriptures, but planning the after service bruncheon, focusing on the building and finance committee, showing up and listening to the sermon once a week and then going back into the world for the sake of self and not ever opening the Scriptures again until the next Sunday does not a servant of the Most High God make.
Stay in the Word of God daily, seek His face in every action and thought, humble yourself before His Sovereign majesty, and He will make this person you have led to the cross profitable for His Kingdom, as well as you. The Word of God is where we go to find the will of God.
