“‘What do you mean, “If I can?”’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes.’” (Mark 9:23 NLT)
What we truly believe isn’t evidenced by our words alone, but by the quality of our lives revealed in and through the avenues of our life. What does that mean?
It essentially means that we can profess anything, but our actions, how we live from day to day, is what demonstrates who we are. How we speak, work, treat others, worship, serve, and a thousand other ways large and small reveal what motivates us and serves as the core of what drives us, what we truly believe.
And make no mistake, we’re ALL driven, we ALL believe in something or Someone. Faith in Jesus is a belief system that encompasses the entire purview of not only what motivates a person, but how they live out that drive. Faith is not given expression in a vacuum, but in full view of whoever may be watching.
Everyday we rub shoulders with many people, some we know, many we do not, yet the quality and passion of our life reveals who we really are. We can profess faith in Christ with every breath, but if we’re rude, unkind, uncaring, short-tempered, vile or unwholesome in our speech, unfaithful, then we’re living anything BUT Jesus.
Words are cheap. We can say the right words but deny them with the way we live. The avenues of our life will reveal the truth or falseness of our words. When the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – gives evidence of the Spirit’s residence in our life, people can’t help but notice.
When someone is unkind to us, says evil things about us, despitefully uses us and we respond in loving, caring, sympathetic ways, that’s not “normal,” so, people will take notice. When the Spirit lives in us He will make Himself known, so, if His presence isn’t evident, could it be He’s not living in us?
In Psalm 139:23-24 David wrote: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” There are many paths that lead to many destinations, but only one Path that leads home to heaven. His name is Jesus and HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE!
If the avenues of your life are leading you away from Him, you’re on the wrong path. Get alone with the Lord and allow Him access to your heart, mind, soul, and body. As you view your own life what clues are there that the life you’re currently living is being lived to His honor and fame? What tangible evidences are there that Jesus is the Ruler of your life?
If someone was to follow you through your day what conclusion would they draw based on what they see? Are you spending time devoted specifically and only to prayer, to reading God’s Word, to studying and memorizing God’s Word, pondering and applying God’s Word? Are you listening for His voice of instruction? Are you hearing what He’s longing for you to hear? Can you discern His voice above the other voices of the world that scream for your attention during the course of any given day? Are you investing yourself in serving others in ways that don’t benefit you?
These and many other questions should challenge each of us to take an inventory of our life with the intention of determining just who or what we’re believing and why?
Anything is possible for someone who believes in Jesus. Who or what are you believing?
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 