learning DAILY



Mark 9:24, “Lord, I believe . . . “

No, you are right.  I used this verse yesterday.  Today, I want you to think back to the moment you said this – or similar words – and really meant it.  I love most of the memories I have of things I have been able to do over the years and probably dwell too much on them.  The occasion for saying, “Lord, I believe . . . “ was pretty simple.  A student had given me a book to read; I read it and accepted Christ as my Savior.  Perhaps it was my competitive spirit because the book showed me how things were going to end; Jesus Christ will come back, defeat the devil, and establish His kingdom on earth.  I like to win and asked Him to come into my heart.  He did and my life changed.  I believed!

Early this morning, the question came in my sleep.  What does it take to believe?  Don’t stop reading because you think I might be getting crazy on you.  I have written before that there are many who believe that what Jesus Christ did while on the cross is foolishness.  From a purely human way of thinking someone dying in the place of others might be thought to be crazy.  So, how does the salvation experience take place in a person’s life?  What does it take for someone to believe?

The answer has to begin with faith!  I am not sure how to give a good definition and explanation of faith in this small amount of space.  The Billy Graham Evangelistic

Association says this: “Faith simply means believing that something is true, and then committing our lives to it. In the Bible, “faith” means believing in God, and in what Christ has done for us to make our salvation possible–and then committing ourselves to Him.”  Sounds like a pretty easy thing to do – simply believe.  For me, at that time in my life, it was.  For others, it takes longer and the situation must be right.  When it is, Jesus Christ takes you into His family just as you are. Then, He expects us to live like we are a part of His family.

We are all different when it comes to our salvation experience.  I did not jump any pews or run down any aisles (from an old Andre Crouch song) and I am just as saved as those who do!  There was a change in me, the old had passed away and the new me was a better version; the result of faith brings changes in an individual’s thinking, speech, actions and motivation for doing things.  For some changes might be immediate.  For others, like me, some changes take a lifetime.

What is your story?  I would be interested to hear it. 

This might be a good time to remind you how to leave a comment.  Right click on the learning Daily at the top of the email.  That should take you to a page that looks like a library.  Scroll down until you get to the Leave a Comment section.  Click on the date, write and click publish.  That will send it to my email and I will look at it.  The reason for that is only to make sure something really ugly is not printed.  I will print all comments – good, bad, positive, and negative – just not the ugly.

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