How Many Actually Believe Enough To Follow Jesus?
Good Morning Friends,
Today’s lectionary poses some interesting text that connects the Lordship of Christ to our belief in the resurrection. And it is more than an intellectual conviction of our confession of who Jesus is. It is something born out of our hearts but also lips. We are to believe and confess that the purpose of love revealed in Christ is strong enough to save us. But, How Many Actually Believe Enough To Follow Jesus?
Scripture: because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”
Romans 10:9-18 (NRSV)
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-22 (NRSV)
Message: When it comes to our salvation we are either dead or alive…saved or not saved, but measuring the health of our faith does not end there. Most Christians I know live well for Christ in some areas of their lives, but struggle in other areas. I think Paul faced some of these problems. Of course, we all struggle with sin. However, the quality of our relationship with Jesus, our trust, faith, hope and love depends on our ability to respond. It is one thing to acknowledge Jesus and another to follow him. Like two sides of a coin, there is an inward as well as an outward experience of Christ and they belong together as a gift that is for all who would choose to receive salvation. The way of deliverance is based on faith that is manifested in works that in turn awaken more faith as a witness to the Gospel shared.
Pray we have an outward expression of an inward conviction.
Pray God remove gossip, jealousy, greed, lust, dishonesty, hatred and anger from our lives. Pray we realize that the only way to be righteous is through Christ. Pray we not only hear the Word but share it in a way that prompts our right response and an act of commitment in others. Pray we see God in Jesus and emulate that outreach of love as the best pattern of existence ever.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 