Day 9 – Lenten Devotional
LENTEN DEVOTIONAL – DAY 9 – FRIDAY, March 15, 2019
The Good News of Faith
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Some have a misconception of what faith is all about. Some think that it means you must go to church once a week, or at least during Christmas and Easter. Some think that all you have to do is recite a certain prayer or simply speak certain words. Some think that if you are born into a Christian family that you are safe. Some think you need to be baptized to be saved. Some think faith is singing songs, praying, doing good works, being a nice person just like Jesus was. None of these speak to the true heart of faith. True faith is serious business! Matthew 7:21 says that, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…”
Jesus came to proclaim the “good news” that He IS the “good news!” The heart of the Bible is all about faith, for without faith in Jesus Christ you are dead. Faith comes from the same root word as belief in scripture. Scripture tells you again and again that it is faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior that brings salvation for He is the only way, the only truth, the only life that brings us to the Father (John 14:6). Faith closes the bottomless chasm that separates Holy God from sinful man. Faith brings you back together with God, reconciled forever with your Creator. Romans 5:10 says, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
Hebrews 11:1 says that “Faith is being sure of what you hope for certain of what you do not see.” Authentic, genuine faith in Jesus Christ means believing in Him with your whole heart, soul, mind and strength…your whole being. True faith is one that acknowledges the “good news,” accepts Christ as Lord, and acquiesces to Him with all you have. True faith is the beating heart of true life, the serious desire to love God not serious duty to love Him.
When you believe in Jesus you are part of the kingdom of God now and forever. “He who believes in the Son has eternal life;” (John 3:36) Already part of God’s family in His kingdom, but not yet what it will be when Jesus comes back again.
REFLECT: Have you truly accepted that Jesus died as a sacrifice for your sins? Do you know that when you truly believe you are born again (see John 3:3)? Do you know you are a new creation (see 2 Corinthians 5:17)? Is your life different now than it was before Christ in your life (see Ephesians 4:22-24)?
REPENT: Change your ways. Confess to God that you are a sinner who needs Jesus. Believe in Him and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Recommit yourself to whole hearted faith in Christ and desire to follow Him.
RESTORE: Living a life in Christ is true living. Through the grace of God you are saved through faith in Christ, it is a free gift for those who truly believe. Life with God forever, Christ in you…AWESOME!
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
Blessings,
Pastor Tom Bellhy