and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. John 5:38
In John’s gospel, chapter 1, Jesus is identified as the Word of God, the Word that became flesh, who brought life and light into the world. As His followers, we are recipients of His grace and truth. Unfortunately there are times, all too many, when we eject Jesus from our hearts and reject His ways completely.
Every time we sin, every time we are unloving, ungracious and unforgiving, we behave as though we do not believe in Jesus. Often we allow ourselves to follow idols of our own making, and lose sight of He who came to bring us eternal life. We begin to dwell in darkness, descending into a world of self-righteous, judgemental rigidity.
It is easy to follow rules, statutes and ordinances, but Jesus came to reveal a higher order of religion, the practice of a faith that is filled with love, alive and transformative. He teaches us to love in a way that is frankly impossible. It is only possible when we submit to Him and allow Him to school our hearts, to make us over in such a way that we become His channels of grace in this world. In so doing, we ourselves will experience His blessings in impossibly rich and ineffable ways.
When we come into our heritage as beloved children of God who live only to glorify His name, we can call ourselves true believers for then Jesus lives and loves in us and through us. Till then, we try our best. And when we fall, we pick ourselves up and try again. Don’t stop believing. Ever.
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