by David Brenneman
"but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." John 20:31.
"I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” John 11:42.
"‘Behold, you scoffers, and marvel, and perish; For I am accomplishing a work in your days, A work which you will never believe, though someone should describe it to you.’ ”Acts 13:41.
"When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”" Mark 2:1-12.
"for we walk by faith, not by sight" 2 Corinthians 5:7.
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1.
"and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory," 1 Peter 1:8.
"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." 1 John 5:13.
The story told within the Gospels is there to show every type and kind of person in this world the truth about Jesus, pointing people to an inexorable conclusion that He indeed was the Son of God.
Even the guard, at the end of the day He was crucified cried out "Surely this was the Son of God!".
But do we live like this is true? Do we live like we know that we know that we know? Do we give here and there to the cause of Christ and yet live for self the rest of the time? Looking at the professing Church...do we see Jesus?
We're not here to satisfy our own desires after we come to Christ for salvation. We're still here in part for our sanctification. To grow with respect to our salvation. To see the world through the eyes of Jesus and not ourselves.
Scripture say that we are not our own, we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Scriptures say that we're ambassador's for Christ. Representing Him wherever we go and in whatever we've been given to do among men and women.
Do we live that out? Or do we continue to spend on ourselves and give only what salves our conscience in order to get a 'feel good about doing something' for Jesus then go back to spending it on ourselves?
Just because you're a Christian doesn't mean that we've arrived. We won't 'arrive' until either God calls us home or the Rapture of the Church takes place.
We're to listen to the Word of God.
Listen in order to believe more fully today than we did yesterday. Do for Jesus more today than we did yesterday. Learn more of Him today than we had known of Him yesterday.
I've whittled down a lot out of my life of what I now see were trivial things that were consuming my time, energy and efforts. I still have a ways to go. Jesus wants all of us, all of our hearts, all of our minds and all of our efforts.
What are you doing with what you've been given from Him today?
Today isn't just today because it came after yesterday. It's today because it's a gift from God for us to use appropriately for Him because it's the only chief reason we're still here. To do whatever He's called us to be doing until that yet future day when we stand before Him to give an account of our lives before Him.
Consider that well. You will give an account of your life before Jesus. Is it filled with trivial, non-Spiritual fruit bearing, things that you did, said or thought? Hate to break it to you but EVERYTHING we go after that isn't going to grow us in Christ, isn't going to let our light so shine before men and women so that they glorify our Father in Heaven is just that...non-Spiritual fruit bearing.
A waste of time and resources for the Kingdom of God. Yes there's things in this life meant to guide us into a rest and respite, we're not to let those things consume our time and attention.
We have been given time to learn about Jesus. To learn how to have a character that stands up to anything the world throws at it because it's the character of Christ.
But if we aren't putting in the efforts...how do we expect to see results that will make Jesus proud of us? If we aren't giving our all, how will we ever expect to hear a "well done!" from Jesus?
Do you have a DAILY time in the Word of God? Do you DAILY talk to Jesus about what's weighing on your heart and mind? ARE you just telling Jesus what you think He wants to hear? You DO realize how foolish that is? He already knows and is waiting for you to be truthful and honest about it...it needs to come from you.
Are you realizing the theme of all the verses that you read earlier? Jesus gave many many convincing proofs of who He was. He went through all the firey judgements of God the Father upon Him on the cross. Shouldn't we do more to live for the One who gave up everything for to save us?
Are you digging into your walk with the same passion or more than you do the things you pursue in this world? Are you as fired up about what you learn in your Bible as you do that game you were whooping it up about? That movie that got you all fired up? That song that you heard that thrilled you?
We have just so much time in the day and more often than not, myself included, we waste so much of it on things that we've convinced ourselves that matter. Things that we've been pursuing that aren't at all adding to our story of Jesus in us.
Think about where your time and money is going. Are you hoarding the blessings of God given to you? Or do you seek out whomever the Spirit is wanting to use you to reach, to bless, or to lift up? Do you spend what you have been blessed with on your own pleasures? Do you set rules for 'your' money that are limiting what God can do with it? Do you set rules for your possessions? Doesn't all 'your' money, and possessions belong to God?
You've got to choose to whom you will follow, yourself or the Spirit. There's only one Captain's seat within us and only one can rightfully sit in it to guide our lives in the way that most honors what God's wanting to do in and through us.
We can talk a good talk about following Jesus...but in seeing all these evidences...and more...shouldn't we do more to really do it? As the Scriptures say...can anyone really out-give God? Can anyone really live a Godly-successful life with one foot in the world and the other in Heaven?
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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