Belief

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2 Chronicles 13:10 Who Is Your God?

As for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him. The priests who serve the Lord are sons of Aaron, and the Levites assist them. 2 Chronicles 13:10

Throughout the world there are many different religions that worship many different gods. Some of these are completely unseen gods, while others are made into forms of statues. In some nations people are required to worship a certain god, while in most nations people are allowed to choose which god they want to have.

Abijah told Jeroboam that he and his people have God as their God and that they have not forsaken Him, and that the sons of Aaron and the Levites assist them in serve God.

Following the gods of the world is following a dead lead. There is no life in those gods, and they cannot do anything for anyone. Anyone relying upon those gods will be disappointed and will lose in the end.

While the world believes in many gods, believers are to believe in and serve only God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, the giver of all life. However, just believing in God does not provide what one needs in this life. Many have chosen to forsake God and not fully obey His commands. They dabble in the ways of the world and follow false gods when it is convenient and goes their way.

Those who truly believe in God will serve and obey Him in every area of their lives. They will not choose to forsake Him when things are tough, or under peer-pressure, or when presented a false god. Believing in God this way will give one assurance and strength in times of trouble, because He is alive and is a helper.

You will be tempted by the world to follow false gods, or to put things or people above God. The world will strive to get you to believe in other gods or things to take the place of God.

Focus your heart and life upon God and His word. Obey His commands and serve Him. Do not allow yourself to forsake Him and walk away from Him and disobey His commands. God will never leave you, nor forsake you. He is the only one true God that is alive, unlike the false gods of this world.

Make God the God of your whole life, not just on Sundays or when things are rough.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will serve God alone; that you will never forsake God and His commands; that you will obey all of God’s commands; and that you will tell the world about God.

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Exodus 4:1 Being Reluctant

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” Exodus 4:1

In order for many people to believe a person they want to see his credentials. People want to know what gives a person the authority to say or do what he is saying or doing. They desire to see some great big title behind the name.

As people doubt so much, many people are unwilling to step up and speak or do something when they don’t have the title to match it.

Moses had been told by God to go back to Egypt and tell the people that He was releasing them. Moses questioned it and asked what to do if they don’t believe him or listen to him.

Fearing that someone will be unwilling to listen is common among believers. It is common that many feel as if they do not have any authority to speak up or tell others about Jesus without having some bible degree or leadership title. They are reluctant to step out in faith and do what God has called them to do.

God loves to use the simple to astound the complex. He works in ways that will amaze people, but it has to be done in faith. It starts with being willing to step out and speak up with what one knows and can do. As soon as that step is taken, God steps in and does the supernatural by bring signs and wonders to confirm the words and actions.

Very few will ever have to lead a nation out of another nation, but every believer is called to lead someone out of the grips of sin and death. All it takes is being willing to go up to someone and tell them about Jesus.

There are people that you will come across that God has placed there for you to be a witness to. You may or may not have a bible degree, but you do have a testimony of what God has done in your life and how He has saved you.

Do not hold back your testimony out of fear that they will not listen or believe you. Some will not listen or believe you, but most will listen. Allow God to work miracles through you and change their hearts.

Are you being reluctant to do and say what God wants you to do and say?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know what God wants you to say and do; that you will be willing to obey God’s call on your life; that you will give your testimony to all God puts in your path; and that God will confirm His authority in you through you.

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Revelation 4:8 God Is

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stopped saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” Revelation 4:8

As the world has many who do not believe God exists at all, there are also many who have different beliefs in who or what God is. Some believe He is just some big cosmic buddy in the sky, others some cruel dictator, others that He is out there somewhere that cannot be found or known, along with that He is everything or some statue.

In a vision John has, he sees four creatures that are continually worshipping God, saying that He is holy and always was, will be and will be to come.

While the world may have many different views of who God is, there are two main things that God is that the world often misses. God is holy and that He always existed and always will exist.

Even in the church there are many who have a misconstrued sense of who God is. Some just see Him as a ticket out of hell, others see Him just as the one to go to for asking for help in time of need, others see Him as the world does a dictator or just as a buddy in the sky.

Realizing that God is holy is the first thing a believer should know about God. This means that there is no sin in Him at all. This gives encouragement, because it means He will never do anything to harm anyone following Him.

The other thing to realize is that He has always been and always will be. This gives Him experience and knowledge in every area of a person’s life to guide in the perfect way.

As a believer, do you recognize the holiness and purity of God? Knowing this can help you trust His guidance in your life. It also gives you the level you are to aim to be at in your life.

God is always there for your and with you and will be with you in the future. He will never make a mistake with you, nor will He ever leave you.

Worship God for His holiness and presence. Who is God to you today?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will see how holy God is; that you will know God’s presence in your life; that you will know God is always there and always will be there; and that you will trust God with your life.

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1 Peter 3:15 Ready With A Gentle Answer

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

Everybody has some beliefs or convictions about something. Very often people believe something just because someone else believes it or that is what their parents believed.

When beliefs are only because someone else believed in them, it is difficult for a person to give a solid reason to believe. For this reason, it is common for people to change what they believe in or follow on a regular basis.

Peter, in light of being persecuted, encourages the people to make Christ their Lord and to be prepared to give a reason for their hope. In giving a reason, it is to be done with gentleness and respect.

In the same way that many in the world cannot give a solid reason for some belief or hope, many in the church flounder when talking about why they believe what they believe. Most common is stating that what one believes is because that is what the pastor said.

Hope is often lost because people have taken their eyes off of God and are looking at dreadful circumstances in front of them. They do not take the time to study God’s word and understand what God is doing.

Others have the hope, but present it in a very harsh way. Rather than showing love and gentleness, they beat people over the head with what they know and believe. They act as if others are stupid to not have the same hope.

Every believer needs to take time to understand why he has hope in Christ and learn to be able to tell others about that same hope. They will stand out as different when they hold up under persecution with the hope that they have.

As a believer you must know why you have hope and belief in Jesus. Let this be so much a part of your life that others will see it and want to know more about it. Allow that hope to carry you through difficult struggles that life will throw your way.

Along with having that hope inside of you, be willing to share it with others. The world needs to hear about the hope you have. Don’t beat them down with it, but share it with love and care.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know why you have hope in Jesus; that others will see the hope you have in Jesus; that you will be able to communicate to others why you believe what you believe; and that you will be God’s witness in this world.

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James 2:19 It Is More Than Just Believe

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder. James 2:19

Belief in a god is very common all around the world. At least half of the people of the world believe in at least one god, many will believe in more than one. Others believe in the possibility of a god existing, but are not absolutely positive.

Most of the people leave their level of belief at just that level, just believing and nothing more. It does not have much of an effect upon their daily living.

As James talks about doing good deeds and faith, he tells the people that it is good that they believe in one God, but it is not enough, because even the demons do that–and shudder.

Believing in one God is an easy thing for a person to do, but very commonly it does not change the way a person lives, thinks, acts or speaks. Even though they believe, they do not realize the authority and power of God, and thus believe with a flippant attitude. The demons know who God is and are fearful.

Sadly, this type of belief in God is a common occurrence within the church. People go to church, sing the songs, hear the sermon, then go home back to their sinful lifestyles with no thought about God in their minds or actions.

Actions are what proves a belief. A person can believe that a chair will hold him, but if he never sits on it, he really does not believe.

One must believe in what Jesus did to be saved, but then he must act upon that belief by doing good deeds out of love for Jesus and what He did and love for others. He must realize that without working for God, there will be a judgement against him in the end.

If you have chosen to believe in Jesus that is great. Now ask yourself what are you doing with that belief.

Do you realize who God is and the power and authority that He has over your life and this temporary world? Or do you think that He is just the good man upstairs?

Allow who God is to change you from the inside out. God has great works for you to do, if you will trust Him and obey Him, not just believe in Him.

True belief will bring about change and action.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know who God really is; that you will know God’s authority and power; that you will obey God with all of your life; and that you will be changed by knowing who God is.