Jesus answered,
“The work of God is this:
Believe in the One He has sent!”
John 6:29
Can you remember an occasion when someone truly believed you? How that made you feel! Can you imagine how you make God feel when you do the work He asks of you: Believe! Believe in the One Whom He sent! That you cleave to, trust in, rely on and have faith in His Messenger (John 6:29 AMP) His Son, Christ Jesus!
Scripture shares truth and wisdom and common sense with us. When a person works, their wages are not credited to them as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to those who do not work; but instead, truly trusts God who justifies the wicked, their faith is credited as righteousness.
David spoke of the blessedness of those to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven! Whose sins are covered! Blessed is the person whose sins the Lord will never count against them!” Romans 4:4.
Do you truly believe: Cleave to, trust in, rely on and have faith in God’s Messenger, Christ Jesus? If so, why allow fear to move you from the Word of Truth if someone you know or love refuses to come to the Lord to have life (John 5:40)? Just believe in the Lord Jesus. Does not God’s Word tell us: You will be saved – you and your household! (Acts 16:31). So often I just didn’t trust the Lord, and as a result was guilty of distancing instead doing what I truly desired – bringing someone closer to the Lord.
Why speak words of fear and doubt and disbelief about God and His Word? In their astonishment even the Lord’s disciples asked Him, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible,” Matthew 19:25-26.
Not some things, ALL things! For Jesus said, “Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me, you would see the glory of God (John 11:40 AMP)?
God showed how much He loved the world by sending His only Son into this environment of wickedness to bring to mankind eternal life through the Lord’s death. In this act we see what real love is: It is not our love for God but His love for us, when He sent His Son to satisfy His anger against our sins (1 John 4:9 TLB).
Dearly loved of God, now is the time for us to exhibit loving-kindness to ourselves, that we may be filled to overflowing with the love of God to share with others! Let us be determined to do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord our God, being watchful of ourselves and following His Word, for surely it will go well with us and with our children forever (Deuteronomy 12:28 AMP).
Forever! All throughout eternity! From the beginning God’s Word entered the realms of time so doubt and worry and confusion would not cause us to waver. Jesus, the Word of God, is Truth! Christ, the Chief Cornerstone, set securely as the foundation the prophets and apostles built upon (Ephesians 2:10).
God has given us a solid foundation on which to stand! A foundation of Truth. Regardless of what we may think and feel! God’s Word ensures we learn what is trustworthy, reliable – worthy of our confidence – true, genuine and valid! Because evil is there with us even when we want to do good (Romans 7:21 ERV).
How much more evidence do we need to this fact: when Jeus went about doing good and healing ALL who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him (Acts 10:38); yet, in a very different garden He was heard saying, “Everything is possible for Your, Father, Take this cup of suffering from Me,” Mark 14:36a.
However, Jesus knew before the Genesis of God’s love story to mankind that He would be made known – manifest and visible – to undo – destroy, loosen and dissolve – the works of the devil (1 John 3:8 AMP). God sent His Word, hemmed in by flesh, so to manifest and make visible the Truth, the Way and the Life He desires to share with us.
This is why Jesus said, “Father, not what I will, but what You will,” Mark 14:36b. “For He Who sent Me is ever with Me; My Father has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him,” John 8:29. “I do not judge by human standards! I pass judgment on no one! For I know where I came from and where I am going. And, if I were to judge, My decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, Who sent Me,” John 8:14-16.
Why put our faith and hope in opinions and beliefs that change with the winds of circumstance. Why put our trust and confidence in feelings that are not factual. God has given us the victory that conquers the world, faith in Jesus, His Word of Truth. Those who are born of God will be victorious over the world (1 John 5:4) of deception and delusion.
For the teaching about the cross though it seems foolish to those lost in the darkness this world produces, is the power of God to those who are being saved (1 Corinthians 1:18 ERV). God has said, “I will destroy all human plans of salvation no matter how wise they seem to be, and ignore the best ideas of men, even the most brilliant of them,” 1 Corinthians 1:19 TLB.
So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day-and-age? Hasn’t God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb — preaching, of all things! — to bring those who trust Him into the Way of salvation (1 Corinthians 1:20 Message).
My prayer for the children of God, we would stop allowing fear and anger, pride and doubt, confusion and defiance to continually work against us. That we would look into the face of Jesus, God’s Word of Truth, so we give our heavenly Father the glory He so richly deserves – our heart, our soul – all of our being!
That we put our faith, our hope, our trust and confidence in God, Who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment! That we do good! That we be rich in good deeds! Generous and willing to listen and to share! For surely, we will lay up treasure for ourselves as a firm foundation so we may take hold of the Life that is truly Life (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Therefore, let us not become weary in doing good!
For the one who sows to please their sinful nature,
From that nature will reap destruction!
However, the one who sows to please the Spirit,
From the Spirit they will reap eternal life!
Galatians 6:8-9