DO I REALLY BELIEVE…?

“I’m finding more and more truth in the words written in red. They tell me there’s more to life than just what I can see. Oh, I believe.” — Brooks and Dunn, “Believe”

Zephaniah 3:17-20
Isaiah 49:14-16
1 John 3:1-3

That Jesus remains in me? That I remain in him?

That he cares more about love and mercy than service and sacrifice?

That he believes in me? That he believes I can be like him? And calls me to be like him?

That God’s Spirit leads me, guides me, comforts me?

That he considers me a friend?

That the world will know I follow him if I love others?

That people will persecute me for following him?

That in him I have peace?

That believers can truly become one?

That he has given us his glory as he received it from the Father?

That he is in us as a body?

That love bears, believes, endures and hopes all things?

That he is with me in the midst of my pain?

That I will overcome the world?

That he is perfecting the faith in me that he authored?

That God’s love is perfected in me if I love others?

That he cannot only forgive things as awful as I’ve done, but that he wants to? And has?

That he healed people, that he still can, and sometimes still does?

That he still has authority on earth?

That he gives life?

That he has conquered death?

That he’s generous toward me? And wants to be?

That he’s willing to make me clean and new?

That my believing pleases him?

That he’s worth leaving everything behind to follow?

That I’m the reason for his journey?

That he’s in charge of all things holy and should be of all things religious?

That he knows my heart and thoughts? And still loves me?

That the poor and hungry and weeping and oppressed are blessed?

That he wants me to love my enemies?

That he was and is friends with sinners and drunkards and tax collectors and prostitutes?

That faith saves me?

That those who hear and do God’s word are his family? Even if I don’t like the way they do it?

That he really wants me to lose my life to save it?

That receiving a child in his name is receiving him?

That clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick or imprisoned is doing so to Jesus?

That he who is not against me in the faith is for me?

That he who hears me speak the gospel hears Jesus?

That he who rejects the gospel rejects Jesus?

That I can bring the peace of Jesus to a home, a family or a friend?

That I am not fit for the kingdom if I put my hand to the plow and look back?

That my name written in heaven is reason to rejoice?

That loving God and loving others is what he wants most from me?

That he’s a father who knows what I need before I ask?

And that he gives me what I need?

That if I seek, I’ll find; if I ask, I’ll receive; and if I knock, the door will open?

That if I don’t gather with Jesus, I scatter?

That Jesus denounced the religious?

That the Spirit gives us words when we need them most?

That much is required of them to whom much has been given?

That Jesus divides and unites?

That I need to repent?

That the first will be last and the last will be first?

That he wants me to love him more than anything else in my world?

That he’d leave 99 to find one, to find me?

That I can’t serve both God and money?

That what men exalt God abhors?

That the kingdom is in our midst?

That God humbles him who exalts himself, and God exalts them who humble themselves?

That I must receive the kingdom the way a child does?

That God restores, repays, rebuilds, redeems?

That he knows what he’s doing?

That he thinks of me?

That he doesn’t forget me?

That his words are as vital to my life as the food I eat?

That he’s enough?

Adam