Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 210 – 1 John 5:1-5 – Jesus Is The Son Of God – Growing As Disciples
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:1-5 (NLT)
Believe In Me
Well, do you? Do I what? Do you believe in me? Yes, of course I believe in you. What does it mean to believe in me? Does believing in me mean that you believe a set of facts about me? At one time, that is all I believed about you. I only believed a set of facts about you. Did believing a set of facts about me change your life? Did believing a set of facts about me alter your course Did believing a set of facts about me cause you to want to love and follow and serve me? I am sorry to say that believing a set of facts about you had no impact on my life. I did not think or speak or act any differently because I believed a set of facts about you. My life was not changed. My course was not altered. I did not love you more because I believed a set of facts about you. Then, what you are describing is not truly believing in me, is it? No, it is not. When did you truly come to believe in me? I came to believe in you when I desperately needed you. My life was bruised and battered and broken. My own sin had brought me pain and suffering. I had reached rock bottom. I had nowhere to turn but to you. I cried out to you. Really, I shouted at you. I demanded that you show yourself to me if you were real. Did I hear and answer that prayer? You are calling what I did, a prayer? It certainly was a prayer. Well, you answered my cry. You heard my prayer. You brought me to you. You helped me to confess my sins to you. You helped me to receive your forgiveness and cleansing. You turned my life around. I left my old life behind. You filled me with your Holy Spirit, and you gave me a completely new life to live. Now, nothing about me is the same. No part of my life has been left untouched by your hands. Day by day, you have been molding and shaping my life as I follow you. Now, all my thoughts and words and actions are different. Now, because I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength, it is not burdensome for me to obey your commands. In fact, it is my joy to live a life that is good and right and true. It is my pleasure to do what is pleasing to you. With me working in and for and through you, what have I also given to you? You have given me victory over the world. The world has lost its grip on me because I am holding on to you. Now, you truly do believe in me. Yes, I do. That is very good.
Lord, I believe in you with all my heart. You are my Savior and Lord. I love you with all that is within me. Loving you makes obeying your commandments not burdensome. Help me to follow and serve you. Help me to love others. Give me victory over the world. Amen
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