Are You A True Believer?
Good Morning Friends,
Well let’s be honest the whole idea of someone dying a horrible and painful death, and then after three days being brought back to life, despite the terrible wounds of a scourge and crucifixion, is rather outrageous. That this very same person who died and rose again from that dead state claimed to be God does not make it more believable either. Something mysterious and miraculous must happen in us to believe this preposterous notion of Jesus being born again and then ascending to a throne in Heaven. And the amazing thing is that God does exactly that through the Holy Spirit reflecting in us that very same power that overcame sin and death on the cross and birthed the church at Pentecost. What I think and feel happens is that passing on this faith to others activates in each of us a more complete and mature evangelism. It is a witness to the truth that the church is still around after almost 2000 years. It is a witness to something deeper. For there is a benefit and comfort that is unexpected and often missed in this relationship of worship. Here we discover that God’s love lasts. So today I ask, in love, if you are committed to completed the circuit. Are You A True Believer?
Scripture: In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. Through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. Your sister church in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
1 Peter 5:5b-14 (NRSV)
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.
Mark 16:15-20 (NRSV)
Message: Every child of God is born to be a wonder to the world. And make no mistake, we live in an amazing world with miracles everywhere that flow out of our lives. And these signs seem to me to belong to a God who uses those that believe in doing these amazing things. Of course, Jesus is the key to it all and only in experiencing this broken body in us collectively does all the other stuff make sense. You see, Jesus never structured the purposes of God around themes of self-importance or self-esteem. Rather, he spoke of taking up the cross of a King so we might follow. So, the message is that we are to submit ourselves to Christ’s rule and pray that we and the entire Church Universal stand in one accord to show unbelievers how the Body of Christ really operates when committed to a common cause. Friends, Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. No one works like him. He built his throne in heaven and calls his saints from everywhere to redeem the world. That is probably why today’s scripture from Mark was added as a way of completing the message of the Gospel and of Jesus’ power that can be in us. Friends, there was a time when believers were completely one with Jesus and they blew the minds of the world. These wonders were a sign that Jesus was using them to change the world forever. We need to do the same. For only when we are in Christ do our lives Glorify God. Friends, Jesus can use us to change the world forever too if we believe. Thankfully Peter wrote today’s scripture as a letter not only to a persecuted church, but to anyone that struggles with living out a faith in the Body of Christ. The difficulty many of us face is not necessarily persecution but more likely a failure to remain constantly under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The answer is in plain sight friends. To live an effective Christian life, we are to live in God’s strength, not in our own. We are to live under God’s control and not under self-rule. The mystery is, and I really hope we all get this, is that only in Christ are we in command of our lives.
Friends, it is easy to serve our Lord when times are good and it costs us nothing to hold our faith. But there are times when we grow weary, when we feel defeated, when it seems that the circumstances of life will surly overwhelm us. It is in moments like these that we choose between dealing with life in our own strength or remaining dependent on the Spirit of God living within us. If we find ourselves struggling in the faith this morning, take heart. God has a word of encouragement for us. God’s desire is to use these difficulties to strengthen us, to perfect and establish us, and to demonstrate to us how the Holy Spirit wants to care for us in a way that evangelizes others. That is how it all fits together.
Pray we be humble but confident as we pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Pray we be dependent on God. Pray we cast all our cares on God, because God cares for us. Pray we be alert to the possibilities. Pray we overcome temptations and deceptions and discouragement. Pray we be tenacious in guarding against evil and with this strong faith prepare ourselves for the persecutions of life. Pray we proclaim the Good News. Pray then we be assured that God will love us, God will perfect us, bringing us to wholeness. Pray we be assured that God will confirm us to make us more resolute in the faith. Pray we be assured that God will strengthen us and establish us on a firm foundation so we might live in the love of Jesus Christ.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 