Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 1: Believe in God!”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
“Just believe!”
The advice of a raving fan of an underdog team… “Just believe!”
When facing a challenging illness or difficult surgery… “Just believe!”
Questions asked about God or other teachings of the Bible… “Just believe!”
This phrase gets thrown around in our culture today in many different settings. I would say that the common factor in all of these situations is a level of “unknown” or a situation that is “out of our control.”
As we begin a series, it would be good to define what we mean by “believe” so that when we use it, we have a common understanding of the term.
To believe means three things:
- To KNOW the true God.
The Apostle Paul was in Athens and wandered through the many temples of many gods. Ironically he found an inscription at one that said, “To the unknown god.” Those in Athens worshipped many “gods” they knew, but also wanted to make sure they had recognition there may be someone they missed.
Acts 17:23 For as I was walking around and carefully observing your objects of worship, I even found an altar on which had been inscribed, ‘To an unknown god.’ Now what you worship as unknown—this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
Paul recognized that one can not believe in one they have not heard of, “How can they believe in the one they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14)
To believe in the true God, we must know the true God.
Second, to believe means
- To ACCEPT the Bible as the Word of God.
The Bible is the place where God has revealed all of who he is and what he has done for us to know him and believe in him. Therefore, the Spirit of God must work an acceptance in our heart that the Bible is the Word of God. It is difficult to believe in the true God when I don’t accept his Word as true.
“Faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
Jesus prayed for his disciples, 17 “Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth.” What sets apart the Christian faith from all others is acknowledging the Bible IS the Word of God and as the Word of God is truth for all of faith and life.
Third, to believe means
- To TRUST God and all his promises.
Trust is challenging. It is putting your safety and security in the hands of someone else. I remember the story of Blondin, a tight-rope walker who asked if people believed he could walk across a tight-rope strung across Niagara Falls with a chair on his back and someone seated in that chair. The crowd yelled, “We believe!” To which Blondin invited, “Which of you would like to sit in the chair?” The crowd was silent.
Trusting is sitting in the chair on the back of our Savior relying on him for everything in life and eternity. As the Psalmist said, “But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God” (Psalm 31:17).
“Just Believe” can be an empty phrase we use in uncertain times. When God invites us to “just believe” it is his gracious invitation to KNOW him, ACCEPT his Words, and TRUST his promises.
Just believe!
Apply: Which of these three areas perhaps is the greatest challenge to your faith? Ask the Lord to strengthen areas where you are weak.
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for allowing me to know you, accept your word, and trust your promises. Grow my faith in you throughout this series! AMEN.