There’s a classic TV game show called “Let’s Make a Deal” that features a simple concept: You pick what’s behind door number 1, 2, or 3, and then make a deal with the host.
In the eternal “Let’s Make a Deal,” there are also three doors. Behind door number 1: You have sinned, and that means God, who is perfect, cannot let you into his perfect heaven. You reject his offer to cleanse you of your sins, so you go to hell. Door number 2: You have sinned, and you try to make up for it by doing some good things. But you can never be good enough to match God’s holiness—and you’ll still spend eternity separated from him. Door number 3: You submit to God’s plan and let Jesus cleanse you of your sins. Jesus Christ says, “Here’s the deal: I’ll take all of your guilt and sin, and I’m going to give you all of my goodness. You can spend eternity in heaven with me.”
What a deal!
In fact, it’s the best news in the world. Heaven is a perfect place. You’re not getting there with all your badness. You’re only getting there with all of God’s goodness, but it’s already been paid for and it’s free—it’s a gift God offers you. Why? Because God is a good God. It’s the best deal you’re ever going to get!
Romans 4:25 says that Jesus “died for our sins and rose again to make us right with God, filling us with God’s goodness” (TLB).
So what does that have to do with prayer? It has everything to do with prayer. If you don’t understand this, you’ll never understand prayer.
What God did for you at the cross makes prayer possible.
The Bible says, “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” (Romans 8:32 NLT).
Do you see the logic of this verse? When Jesus Christ died for you on the cross, he solved your biggest problem. So any other problem you have in your life is small potatoes! If Jesus Christ, because of his goodness, died for you, don’t you think he loves you enough to help you with your bills and your health and your relationships? There is nothing you can’t bring to God in prayer.
If Jesus loved you enough to die for you, he loves you enough to answer your prayer
“Con respecto a la vida que antes llevaban, se les enseñó que debían quitarse el…
When you use the gifts that God has given you, it is an act of…
“Por lo tanto, hermanos, tomando en cuenta la misericordia de Dios, les ruego que cada…
The reason you have value is because of what God says about you, not because…
“Hay algo dentro de mí, que lucha contra lo que creo que es bueno. Trato…
When you understand how God has uniquely shaped you, then you know what purpose he…