Renewed belief

Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him....John 2:23

I am so thankful that I grew up in a home where the Bible was present. Where the Bible Story books lined a shelf in the living room throughout my childhood. The words of scripture are familiar to me. Every sermon I hear today, every passage of scripture I read, has a familiar note.

Unfortunately, a familiar faith can become a routine religion if we allow the comfort of it to lull us into complacency. And complacency is one of the things I have found myself fighting against lately. So, I began this journey with a vow to look for newness in the familiarity of faith.

As I read this week about the first few men who believed on Jesus Christ as Messiah, I was struck by the newness of their belief.

These men were familiar with the word of God. They were familiar with God, Himself. They believed already....But they were walking into a new chapter of scripture. A new story.

Their belief was made new as they encountered Jesus Christ, other believers, and the miracles of God in everyday life.

That renewed belief became the catalyst for the amazing lives they led as prophets, teachers, disciples, apostles....and martyrs.

A constant renewal of belief is absolutely necessary to living an anointed existence. If our belief is allowed to stagnate, our faith will do the same. But if belief is continually stirred within us, we can't help but act in our lives in response to it. Belief has that effect on humanity. Belief is a catalyst for action.

If we desire to truly walk by faith through every season of our lives, it is absolutely necessary for our belief to be continually renewed within us.

Scripture tells us how John the Baptist, Jesus' disciples, and others came to believe in Jesus Christ as Messiah for the very first time, and I believe that we can use their stories to understand how our own belief can be renewed as well.

John the Baptist was no stranger to God, even before he met Jesus Christ. He had a very close relationship with God. We know that because he heard God speak to him and he obeyed His voice. That's exactly why we find him baptizing believers at the beginning of the New Testament.

And that's exactly why he believed in Jesus. When John baptized Jesus the Holy Spirit descended from heaven and rested on him. John testified that was the exact sign that God had told him to look for over the Messiah. John believed because of it.

In our relationship with God, as we hear his voice in our lives, listen, and obey, we too will begin to recognize signs from God in our lives. They may not come in the form of doves or voices from heaven, but they will come.

In the form of a devotion that speaks to your exact frame of mind and reminds you to believe. In the form of a song that lifts your spirit up toward God and reminds you to believe. In the form of a kind word from a stranger in whose face you catch a glimpse of Christ and reminds you to believe.

When John believed, he began immediately to testify of his belief. He shared his belief with everyone he met. In one passage of scripture, we catch a glimpse of Jesus walking by John. As he passed, John, fueled by belief, declared to those around him, There is the Lamb of God.

Two of John's own disciples believed what he testified to. They left to follow Jesus. John's testimony of belief became belief in the hearts and minds of those around him.

The Apostle Paul wrote that faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17). When we hear belief coming from the mouths of other believers, belief is stirred within us. And not only that, but when we are the one sharing belief we benefit as well. We remind ourselves to believe anew when we proclaim belief.

Spoken belief, renews belief for every believer within earshot. Our belief is renewed when we surround ourselves with other believers who speak belief. Whether they are pastors, church members, friends, or simply the voices we hear through the radio. Listening to believers renews our own belief.

John wasn't the only one who immediately began to share his belief. One of those same two disciples brought Nathanael to meet Jesus because he wanted him to believe as well. And Nathanael did believe, when Jesus spoke personally to him, revealing where he had come from, and the greater things that were in store for him in the days ahead.

Nathanael believed when he spoke with Jesus. Our belief is renewed in the same manner.

Jesus developed a relationship with Nathanael and the other disciples during His time on this Earth. He walked with them. He talked with them. He shared Himself with them. They heard His voice in their lives. And they believed because of it.

God desires the same kind of relationship with each one of us. He desires to speak to us. To reveal to us that He knows where we've come from. And that He knows where we're going. He knows the greater things that he has planned for each of us.

That personal relationship with God will continually renew belief in our hearts and minds through prayer, meditation, and time alone with God.

At the wedding feast at Cana, Jesus demonstrated His power in a miracle. His first miracle. Scripture says that his disciples believed in Him, because of it.

They believed because they saw God act in their midst.

God hasn't stopped performing miracles. He hasn't ceased to act in the lives of His children. He still heals the sick. He still mends the broken-hearted. He still dramatically changes lives. When we see God perform miracles in our midst, our belief is renewed.

We don't have to look hard to see the miracles of God in everyday life. When the sun rose in the east this morning, it was because God told it to. When my children prayed on the way to school this morning it was because God gave us all breath today.

Our belief is renewed when we simply recognize God's provision as the miracle that it is.

There were those in my reading this week, who did not believe. Those who scoffed at Jesus and his zeal for the temple of God. They demanded that he show them a miraculous sign to prove that He had authority from God.

Jesus refused. He refused to act on demand, like a puppet on a string, but He promised that if they destroyed His temple, He would raise it in three days. And He did. He gave one magnificent, miraculous sign for all the Earth to believe on if they would.

As the Easter weekend has passed, we've all spent time reflecting on this miracle.

And our belief has been renewed because of it.

When faith becomes too familiar, and our walk becomes routine, we can always look to Calvary to renew belief, feed faith, and rouse our hearts.

Reflect on the suffering of our Savior, and the miracle of His empty tomb. Imagine meeting Him in heaven, and be renewed.

That is the gift of faith in us.

(Journey: John 1:19-2:25)