Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell down trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”

–Acts 16:29-31 NET

What is Christianity—being followers of Christ—about? Put simply, it means we have the opportunity to experience an eternal relationship with the God of the universe (John 17:3)!

Wrap your mind around that for a minute. We, created and limited creatures, are able to have a real, vibrant, and ever-growing relationship with our Creator. That really should be unfathomable! Yet it is true.

So how do we enter into that relationship? The Bible is clear: We simply believe in—put our trust in—Jesus Christ. That…is…it! There is no complicated formula to learn. There is no ritual to perform. In fact, there is nothing—absolutely nothing—we can do to earn it. And how could we? The gap is too great. Even apart from the gap of sin—which is unbridgeable—God is so completely different from us that only He can truly make such a relationship a reality.

So let’s keep it simple! As we approach God, let’s do it confidently, knowing that we have full access to the King of the Universe (Hebrews 10:19-23)! That isn’t to make light of or diminish the holiness and majesty of God. There is no room for disrespect as we enter into His presence. But a hesitation born of doubt is also a sign of disrespect, indicating that we don’t really believe God’s word that faith (belief/trust) is all that He requires.

Let’s also keep it simple as we invite others to experience God’s presence. Again, there is no secret formula to share. We do not have access to God because we are smarter or better or did anything to earn His favor, so let’s be clear that they too can have access through a simple act of putting their trust in Jesus. That is indeed the Good News of the Gospel! What a privilege it is to do what Paul and Silas did and simply invite people to believe!

ACTION: Read Hebrews 10 and meditate on the access we have to the Father through Jesus, our High Priest. What excites you as you meditate on this truth? Who can you share it with this week?