What makes you believe in something? Do you believe based on a witness of an event? Do you believe because someone told you about someone? Does your belief become stronger when you see it for yourself? Does this apply to events, people, and other things?
Deep down inside, we all want to believe. It is only by experiencing lies, false narratives, and hoaxes that we become crass, leery, and skeptical. We may call those who believe immediately naïve. Some of us won’t believe until we see it with our own eyes.
After her encounter with Jesus at the Jacob’s well, the Samaritan woman ran to town to tell everyone about it. Some of them believed. Enough believed that they came out to Him and asked Him to stay with them a couple days. When Jesus had spent some time with them, continuing His teaching, many more of them believed. They proclaimed Him to be the Savior of the world.
Many people today do not believe. Some will believe, if we tell them about Him. Others will not believe no matter how much we tell them about Him. Some will only believe after they have witnessed an extraordinary event. Others believe, but their belief is not strong. Their belief has not changed their lives. They continue in their old ways. Obeying Jesus’ commands is not on their radar. They depend heavily on God’s grace and forgiveness.
We can be people who believe and put our faith in Jesus. We can be people who choose to allow our faith to change us. But to do so means we must not merely believe but also obey God’s commands. As we obey and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, then we are changed into the person God desires us to be.
I pray we all choose to believe in Jesus. I pray our belief becomes a strong faith in Him. I pray each one of us obeys God’s commands and allows the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. Believe in Jesus. Strengthen your faith. Obey God’s commands. Allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life. Become the person God desires you to be.
John 4:41-42 And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”
Marty Pressey 