By Dr. Zane Brown
Minister and pastoral counselor
A
re you reading the Bible through with me? Grab your pen and journal, and get ready to write your thoughts as you journey through the Bible with me.
Read Genesis 13-15. Focus in on Gen. 15:6. The New Living Translation explains this verse well. It says, “And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
Abram’s belief wasn’t a belief IN God. He believed God and the Lord counted him righteous because of it. Believing IN God is an intellectual activity. You agree with a thought. But truly believing God is an act of faith!
Do you believe God’s word and act on it as Abram did?
Think about this the next time you’re tempted to say, “I believe in God.” James wrote, “Even the devils believe and tremble.” James 2:19. Most folks who say, “I believe in God,” do not tremble or shudder at the thought of standing before Him. Yet, the demons tremble. Amazing what we could learn from these evil creatures. They tremble in fear at the very mention of His name! Should we not tremble at the holiness of God as He looks upon our sin-stained lives. On our best days, we are not worthy to be in His presence. But the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all unrighteousness. His one time sacrifice on the cross for our sins gave us the ability to believe in Jesus and enter into His presence when we die for eternity.
Do you really and truly believe Him when He tells us this through the Apostle John? “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (I John 1:7, NIV). To believe God, as Abram did, is to open our lives to the change He will bring as we trust and obey Him.
No person truly meets the Lord Jesus and remains the same!
What do you need to change in your life?
Pray: Lord, I am here before You today asking that You continue to work in my life to make me more like the Lord Jesus. I believe You when You spoke through the writings of Paul and said, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance and He chose them to become like His Son . . .” (Romans 8:28-29). I want to believe You, trust You, and obey You with a whole heart. Make me more like Jesus, I pray.
Dr. Zane Brown
Retired Associational Missionary for Colleton Baptist Association of Churches
Teaching Pastor at Nova Church
