uʍop-ǝpᴉsd∩ From the Beginning

When our lives are ruled by troubles, we use valuable time and resources to find a solution. Everything stays off kilter and out of whack. Upside-down.

Nothing can be truly resolved when a believer looks for any plan outside of Jesus.

Stop and think of the view you have when your vantage point is upside down. Everything is all wrong. You can’t get your bearings easily. Nothing is as it seems.

but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

John 20:31 (WEB)

When facing loneliness, low-self-esteem, grief, anger, or any difficulty do you look within yourself for peace? Why not look to Jesus first?

Do you really believe that Jesus has an answer just for you?

Finding hope in the hardest situations comes from faith in believing. Hope comes from trusting that God really does care enough about all of our issues of life. He cares enough to help us. Sometimes He fixes what is broken. Sometimes He simply reassures us with His presence and peace.

Now, this study is not a trivial pursuit of how many times you can find the word believe. Neither is it an oversimplification or mystical answer for all of our problems. My hope is your trust in the Savior grows as you read the context of each verse.

So, let’s get started with John 1

God wants all of mankind to believe in Him. He doesn’t coerce belief though.

God’s Word is one way that He enables us to see Him, personally. It is through His story that John introduces us to Jesus, the Word. This isn’t just some religious, mysterious terminology.

Devoted believers tend to have language that seems foreign to the world. So, let’s see if we can demystify this thought.

John’s Gospel begins by referring to Jesus as the Word or the Light. Jesus always existed with God. They are not created beings. As a matter of fact, Jesus and the Holy Spirit were together with God as co-creators of the universe.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made.

John 1:1-3

So, you can actually go back to Genesis 1 and re-read that passage with new vision. To truly believe you must believe in God the Father, Son and Spirit. That is a very simplified explanation, but one that you can pursue as we study together.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. John 1:4 & 5

God wants to reveal Himself to you. Look at that verse in a meaningful way. Jesus gave life to mankind, His creation, whom He loves. His holy and righteous life naturally brings light and life to everyone who believes. His holiness even shines in dark places, and our evil sin nature can’t extinguish His holiness.

When we don’t reject Him, He bestows eternal life upon us as a free gift. We walk obediently in His ways in a new kind of life.

That is not a mystery. That is belief.

If you can believe that our God Created this vast universe and every person ever born, don’t you believe that He should be the answer to your struggles?

His life brings light in darkness. (John 8:12)

To me, when struggles overwhelm me, which they often do, this truth is the brightest hope in the world. I sense God’s loving hand in my life even when it’s hard. Even when I fail Him in sinful ways, He never leaves (Deuteronomy 31:6), and the Spirit living in my heart keeps me unshakeable (1 Peter 5:10).

But I must admit, there are times when my knees do shake and my feet are made of clay. (Psalm 40:2) I don’t feel God’s Prescence. But my faith to believe is not in how I feel. It is in Who I know in my heart. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name.

John 1:12 (WEB)

Does this verse remind you of something Jesus once said? Matthew 7:9. Do you see how your relationship with Him makes you know that He wants to help you with anything?

Here are the passages in John 1 that contain the word BELIEVE. John 1:7; 1:12; 1:50.

Share the Gospel in your world!

Isaiah 52:7

World English Bible (WEB)

by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.