I was in church today, and the pastor made an interesting challenge. He asked us to go home, sit down and think; then, write down the words I believe... It is a pretty philosophical question. Do you really know what you believe? As I sit and wonder, I think back and remember Sunday school classes, Vacation Bible Schools, and Summer Camps. The most common and often times correct answers to any question... God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or the Bible. So then it hit me. Do I just believe in some doctrine that I grew up hearing my entire life? Now I have pondered this question before, but I think, I always just dismissed it, or I never truly just formulated an answer to the question. So here it is.
I do not believe in some doctrine because my parents believed and told me to, or because that is what my youth minister told me.
I believe...
I believe in God. He is the creator and I am a part of his creation; I am his creation. He is perfection and me... well, I am far from perfection. It is because of this lack of perfection, I deserve death and nothing more. I do not deserve the glory that awaits beyond this life.
I believe in grace, in the form of Jesus Christ who is the son of God, God in the flesh. It is because God loved us so much he bestowed grace on us in the blood of Jesus. The embodiment of perfection as an atonement, a sacrifice, a ransom for my place, your place, our place. It is because of this grace I now can achieve my place in Glory.
I believe in love. For God so loved the world... How great the Father's love is that he would call us sons and daughters... Greater love has no man than this, that he lays down his life for his friends... Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied: " 'Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. I believe just as Jesus said, these two commands are the greatest commandments and it is only by his Spirit (The Holy Spirit) our guide, that we can ever hope to love others as we love ourselves.
I believe that "I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13). No matter what life brings, I know I can get through it. Challenges, trials, circumstances... I can rise above it with the strength of my God.
I BELIEVE THIS BECAUSE CHRIST CALLS US "...to be more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39).
So the next question, which is just logical to follow up. Why? Why do I believe this?
The answer is simple. Faith. Faith in things unseen. We all need something to hope in right? The difference is, that my faith comes from love. I love Christ because he first loved me. I think Paul sums it up with this: " That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." (2 Timothy 1:12)
So if you read this, I hope you take time and reflect. What do you believe? Why do you believe it?
You are so right. It is always beneficial to take some time and ponder what you think and why. I can remember just like it was yesterday sitting in Dr Bob's Old Testament class... I answered a question and he asked me why did I believe that. I couldn't come up with an answer. It was then and there I decided my faith needed to be mine and not what my pastor growing up, parents or Sunday School teachers had taught me.
ReplyDeleteOver the past years I have grown to have a faith that I know is true and that I can own as my own relationship with Christ. Thanks so much for a reminder that we must daily seek truth and take ownership of our relationship with Christ. We cannot allow others to dictate our relationship for us. However, I am thankful that we have friends to encourage us along the way in our relationship. Good post and I look forward to reading more about what is going on in that head/heart of yours. :)