Believe

Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.

Mark 16:16

I live close to a city where the word believe appears all over town! It seems that every department store I go into has the word imprinted on some item. It gives new meaning to the saying, “Paint the town red!”—I see “Paint the town believe!”

But every time I see the word believe by itself, I think, Believe what? I am hoping it is Jesus! It really matters what we believe. Our beliefs affect our choices. The daily choices we make affect our own circumstances and those of others. Some choices have serious consequences, such as whether we believe Jesus is our only Savior. That choice will determine where we spend eternity—with Him or in the very real place of hell.

There are also other choices each day that we make regarding our faith. Salvation faith is secure forever, but the extent to which we choose to believe in Jesus’ power for our every need on earth goes a long way toward how much we thrive in His Spirit.

If we believe that His mercy is essential to our growth, then we will spread His mercy to others as well. If we believe that our words matter—as we’re told repeatedly in His Word—then we will see more clearly our need for His help to restrain our tongues. And if we believe His Word when it says that our heartaches on earth are nothing compared to the restoration we will have when we focus on Jesus, we’re able to have hope when things are hard.

Choosing belief over unbelief affects eternity. It also affects today. If we are granted this whole day to live, will we live it in His Spirit, believing He is with us all the way? We can answer yes only if we believe!

How will your belief in Jesus impact your joy today? How about your hope and peace and the grace you offer to others? Memorize John 20:29.