In Christ

BELIEVE! What does the word "believe” mean to you? You may think it's a person's opinion, what they think or suppose. Maybe you go a step further and think it means having confidence or trust about something being true. These are all definitions of the word "believe”.

I would like to point out some things about the word "believe”. In the bible, the majority of the time this word appears in the new testament, which means it should also be important to us as Christians. Most of the time it was very important to Jesus that people first believe Him before He prayed for or ministered to them. Many times He would ask them if they believed He could heal them.

One example is in Matthew 9:27-30 "27 After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, "Son of David, have mercy on us!” 28 They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, "Do you believe I can make you see?” "Yes, Lord,” they told him, "we do.” 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, "Because of your faith, it will happen.” 30 And suddenly they could see!” NLT Bible

I could give many examples of the word believe, but I like how the Amplified translation brings out the original meaning of this word in many scriptures.

To believe really means to trust in, adhere to, or cling to, and rely on.

The scriptures show us that believing Jesus is much more than mentally agreeing with what He said. It is really putting your whole heart and soul into trusting Him! This may be too frightening for many people. Jesus doesn't want it to be. When we truly get to know Him we learn to trust Him, after all, He can't lie to us or betray us!

So if Jesus tells us to trust in, cling to, and rely on Him, are we? I like to think I am, and then sometimes I realize I need to believe Him more! It seems easy to believe Him in the less important things in life, but what about the big stuff? He is just as trustworthy with life and death situations as He is in helping you sort out a problem at work.

I encourage you to get to know Him, not just get to know about Him!

Submission by Pastor Rena Mae