一起在中亞長大的巴爾與麥特曾是最要好的朋友，可是在巴爾成為基督徒之後，一切都改變了。麥特向政府當局檢舉巴爾，致使巴爾受到殘酷的折磨。警察對巴爾咆哮：「你絕對不准再提到耶穌！」雖然巴爾被打得遍體鱗傷，但他卻告訴他們：「你們可以禁止我提到耶穌，但絕對無法改變耶穌在我心中所做的一切。」

他說的這些話一直迴盪在麥特的腦海。數個月之後，飽受病痛和喪親之苦的麥特前去尋找巴爾，那時巴爾已經獲釋出獄。麥特放下驕傲，請求他的朋友巴爾幫助他認識這位耶穌。

麥特因聖靈的感動而歸向耶穌，就像那些在五旬節聚集在彼得周圍的人一樣。當時，這些人親眼目睹上帝澆灌豐盛的恩典，並聽見彼得為基督所做的見證，他們就覺得「扎心」（使徒行傳2章37節）。彼得呼籲他們誠心悔改並奉耶穌的名受洗，有大約三千人回應彼得的呼召。這些人悔改拋棄舊有的生活方式，麥特也同樣悔改跟隨這位救主。

凡願意相信耶穌的人都能得到耶穌所賜予的新生命。無論我們過去做了什麼，只要相信祂，接受祂為我們的救主，我們的罪便可以得到祂的赦免，享受新的生命。

Growing up together in Central Asia, Baheer and Medet were the best of friends. But when Baheer became a believer in Jesus, everything changed. After Medet reported him to government authorities, Baheer endured excruciating torture. The guard growled, “This mouth will never speak the name of Jesus again.” Though badly bloodied, Baheer managed to say that they might stop him speaking of Christ, but they’d never “change what He has done in my heart.”

Those words remained with Medet. Some months later, having suffered illness and loss, Medet traveled to find Baheer, who had been released from prison. Turning from his pride, he asked his friend to introduce him to his Jesus.

Medet acted on the conviction of the Holy Spirit in the same way that those who gathered around Peter on the feast of Pentecost were “cut to the heart” when they witnessed God’s outpouring of grace and heard Peter’s testimony about Christ (Acts 2:37). Peter called the people to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and some three thousand did. Just as they left their old ways of life behind, so too did Medet repent and follow the Savior.

The gift of new life in Jesus is available to everyone who believes in Him. Whatever we’ve done, we can enjoy the forgiveness of our sins when we trust in Him.