Daily Devotions
Do You Really Believe?
Title: Do You Really Believe?
Reading for September 27: Zephaniah 1-3
Weekly reading for September 23-29: 1 Thessalonians 1-5
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from this, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God...
1 Thessalonians 2:13
What happens when you really believe? No, not when you just say you believe, but when you REALLY believe that the Bible is not just an ordinary book written by men? What happens to your life when you believe this book came from God?
1. You give up your idols. "For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols..." 1 Thess 1:9
2. You live for the Lord's return. "...and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead..." 1 Thess 1:10
3. You rejoice in the midst of suffering. "...for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit..." 1 Thess 1:6
4. You love your brothers and sisters. "...for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia." 1 Thess 4:9-10
These are four objective standards we can use to measure our own belief. It's one thing to SAY we believe. It's another thing to REALLY believe. What about you? Do you believe? Do idols still have a hold of your heart? Are you living for now or for later? Has the devil taken away your joy? Are you loving, in practical ways, your brothers and sisters?
Father, we believe that the Bible is more than just the words of mere men. We believe that every word comes from your infinite mind. But we also see weakness in our faith. Shore up our faith. Remove all doubt. Make your word a living and powerful agent to change and transform our lives!
