romans10seventeen

“Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”

– ‭‭Mark‬ ‭8:34‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I can honestly say, I have always believed in God. I believe our God is a Triune God…God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. That was part of what I was taught growing up and it’s something I accept by faith. I can’t explain it but I believe it to be true.

Even when I thought God was mad at me and began to question His existence, I cried out to Him believing if He was true He would hear me!  And He did.

So I wonder, how many people out there believe there is a God and believe He is the Creator of the universe, yet still do not know Him as Lord? Still do not know Him as Savior?

Growing up as a Catholic, I believed I was a Christian.  It’s interesting to me how many people believe they are Christians yet do not follow what Christ taught or what the Bible says.  I believed in God but I didn’t believe God.  Do you understand what I mean?  The Bible is the word of God and it’s how we come to know Him because His word is true.

¹⁷ Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17 (KJV)

 John 17:17 is in red…the words of Jesus praying to His Father in heaven.  When you begin to read and study the Bible you begin to understand that the Bible is all we need.  My faith is in Jesus Christ…and He is the Word.  TRUST that He will speak to you through the Bible.  Let His word and the truth of the Gospel get planted in your heart and you will see a change in your life.

My faith is in Christ alone, it has nothing to do with the church I choose to attend (this is mainly for fellowship with other like-minded believers and to serve the Body of Christ and be a light to those still in darkness).  It also has nothing to do with the pastors I enjoy listening to online.  I truly enjoy hearing the word of God preached and I am learning from them.  However, in both instances, I am also learning to discern false doctrine lately.  I wouldn’t have known it 4 years ago…but as my relationship with Jesus grows, the Holy Spirit is giving me that wisdom to know the difference.  A good pastor will tell you to read the Bible for yourself and to confirm anything he is teaching with the word of God.  It is the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth (John 16:13)…not a pastor, not a priest, not a pope.  That’s the job of the Holy Spirit.

We are meant to be sanctified (actually look up that word…you might find it as interesting as I did) through His word.  If you put your faith in anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ you are looking in the wrong direction.  Be careful with that; He’s a jealous God.  And He is a just God.  He loves you and He wants to open up your eyes to His goodness, mercy and forgiveness but He will not be mocked…the Bible says so!

You don’t have to take my word for any of this…ask Him yourself.  He wants to communicate with you!  Ask, seek and knock; He’s waiting to have a conversation with you.  And when you begin to figure this out, you will be changed (2 Corinthians 3).  You will notice and so will those around you.  Your thoughts will change; your actions will change and you will know that you have been born again.  The Bible says we can know.(1 John 5:11-13)  Look theses verses up and let the Lord speak to you through them!

Closing note…2 Timothy 3:15-17

¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.