uʍop-ǝpᴉsd∩ in Bethany

Here is a link to last week’s series, Upside down.

There is a hard decision to be made.

This decision is for believers.

Only committed believers.

“Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” 

James 4:7

Look at the picture above.

Sometimes living the life of a believer appears foreboding. We wonder what is going on. How could these present circumstances bring honor to God? Does the storm ahead of me serve a purpose?

All that I may know for the moment is that I am called to obedience and trust in my Savior. The storm looks tough. I want to hang back in the calm waters. But I hope I will always obey and believe.

Becoming a born-again believer is fairly easy, once you accept the Holy Spirit’s kind invitation to repent and believe.

But the requirement to be a committed believer is real. It requires courage and conviction.

It is far easier to become a lackluster Christian. You know what I mean. There are believers who just sort of tread water. They may love God but just can’t seem to find the fire in their bones that fan the flame of their salvation.

I say, “I won’t mention him or speak any longer in his name.”

But his message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones.

I become tired of holding it in, and I cannot prevail.

Jeremiah 20:9 (WEB)

The daily decision to follow Christ is not so easy. Will you persevere? Will you tend to your relationship with God first, before anything else? Like a treasure?

Most true and lasting commitments are treated with such care.

You don’t take a break from being a stellar spouse, parent, student or employee. Any lapse in loving devotion or mindful attention to duty can alter outcomes. It can upend finances, dreams, goals and most importantly, it can harm your life and the lives of others.

So why would you give any less devotion to God?

None of us have reached a spiritual pinnacle, have we?

Even when we don’t give in to our own sin, the darkness of wickedness around us and the struggle of daily living is overwhelming.

You find yourself feeling spiritually breathless, weary and maybe –

a little frightened.

But Jesus our Savior has gone before us. He knows it all and He has given us a refuge. His peace.

You have got to arm yourself with His Word and the Spirit living inside your heart. This is just too much otherwise.

I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 (WEB)

And have you ever stopped to think about this?

The spotlight of God’s holiness that shines from within you and me exposes us, doesn’t it?

Unless we take steps to dim it.

Think about that.

What would it take to dim that light?

Apathy, disregard, compromise.

Like a muddied spring and a polluted well,  so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

Proverbs 25:26 (WEB)

Our study today is how Jesus helped believers hold on to faith when surrounded by darkness. There were people nearby who were scared to death of the Light of the world.

“The only sure and right way to life is to follow God, Who calls us, boldly without fear. He shines before us in the darkness of this world.”¹

So, let’s take a look at our story for today. Take a moment to read John 11. This is the story about the day that Jesus raised Lazarus, his friend, from the dead. He is comforted His friend, Martha, the sister of Lazarus.

But Jesus also gave Martha’s faith a voice right in front of the wickedness of the enemy.

 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, he who comes into the world.”

John 11:24-27 (WEB)

So, what’s courageous about that?

Martha was surrounded by a mix of people. Some were believers, but some were just religious, not true believers in Jesus as the Messiah. The reason we know that is because Jesus prayed to His Father that the crowd would believe.

Many Jews, who did not believe, lived among Christs’ followers. They reported all believers to the Pharisees. The Pharisees took measures against them and were actively looking to arrest or even to kill Jesus.

Therefore, many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what Jesus did believed in him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done. The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, “What are we doing? For this man does many signs.

John 11:45-47 (WEB)

Are you committed to Jesus? Are you ready to take a stand no matter the cost?

Share the Gospel in your world!

By the way, we saw the word believe used 9 times in the verses below. That brings our total in eleven chapters to sixty-four uses of the word believe. What is this great thought doing for you as a BELIEVER?

John 11:15, John 11:25, John 11:26 (2 x’s), John 11:27, John 11:40, John 11:42, John 11:45, John 11:48

.

1. Source unknown
   Ca 15th century ↩︎

World English Bible (WEB)

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