The Sinner's Prayer

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 24th of April, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We start in the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi 2:6:

“And turned many away from iniquity.” 

Then we go straight to the New Testament to the Book of James 5:20:

”…he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of visiting an older gentleman who was well into his nineties, a very fine older man. I went to have a cup of tea with him. His daughter was there as well and his daughter was concerned about his salvation. We sat and had a cup of tea and started to talk to him (he originated in bonny Scotland) and spoke to him about the old country, as it were, and we talked about lots of different things. Then slowly but surely I started to speak to him about his salvation, about the fact that Jesus loves sinners, about the fact that we need to put our trust and hope in Him. I was praying all the time in my heart, “Please Lord, open this man’s heart to you” and I asked the old gentleman, “Sir, do you mind if we pray together?” He was actually quite open to it, together, we prayed the prayer of faith. That gentleman went to be with Jesus just a week or two ago. 

I want to say to you that when you go to speak to someone about his salvation, especially a man who is a proud man, a good man, but he has never made a commitment to Christ, you need to be gentle. You need to be forthright but you need to be gentle. You need to speak to that older gentleman, or that older lady, or that young person about something they are interested in and get their trust first and then once you have done that you broach the subject and you pray with them the Sinner’s Prayer. Very rarely have I had anyone who refused to pray that prayer with me.

I want to pray for you today. Maybe you have never actually made a public confession of your faith. Why don’t you do it now? Pray this prayer after me please:

Dear Lord Jesus,

I acknowledge I am a sinner and I am in need of a saviour, please help me to put my trust in You completely.
I will serve no other gods but You.
I thank You for dying for me, a sinner,
In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.

Have a wonderful day,
Goodbye.