ODJ: convinced
May 31, 2011
Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life (John 3:6).
READ: James 2:17-24
Someday I want to go skydiving. While I’m not overly fond of heights, I think there’s something incredible about jumping out of an airplane with a parachute (and an instructor soaring tandem with me!). As kids, my sister and I would jump off our second-story deck into the huge mounds of snow that covered our front yard in the dead of winter. One time I even jumped off the roof of a friend’s house (single story) into the deep end of a pool. As a general rule, though, I don’t jump off buildings. I’m convinced that gravity is real.
When it comes to spiritual things, we can’t separate what we believe is real from the way we act. John 3:16 is priceless in communicating the truth of God’s love for us. Our beliefs are not measured by our mental assent to Jesus being the Lord of our lives, but by the actions we live out in submission to Him.
John 3:33 says, “He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true” (NASB). Those who believe put their confidence in the reality that God—and His Word—are true. Because they understand the connection between belief and obedience (Joshua 22:5; John 3:36), they are convinced to the point of action.
Jesus paid the price so we could have the abundant, free life He promises (John 8:31-32, 10:10). To choose Christ is to become a new creation, not by our own works but by His grace—the same grace that empowers us to act in accordance with our belief (2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Timothy 1:9).
We cheapen the cross when our Christianity goes no deeper than to acknowledge in our minds that Jesus is the Son of God. Even the demons recognized as much (Luke 4:33-35; James 2:19). May our actions reflect our belief in Jesus. —Regina Franklin
Can those who know you see a difference between the “old” and “new” you? (John 3:21). How has your belief in the Word of God penetrated your life to the point of changing your actions?
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