LEARNING DAILY

John 11:26, “And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”  Jesus

In the last page of the blog, I referred to a statement written by Charles Spurgeon, “a person cannot believe what he/she does not know”. In the verse above Jesus is talking to Martha about His ability to not only raise the dead “on the last day” but to raise Lazarus from the dead right now. Martha was acquainted with the teaching that there would be a resurrection; that did not give her comfort in this time of grief. Here Jesus is telling her she can find comfort in Him, right now.

When I read the question Jesus asked Martha, I had to stop and really consider it for a moment. “Do you believe this?” It goes a little further and makes one consider if Ihe/she believes what is read in God’s Word. Reading is an important step in knowing what is in the Word. Taking time to study it in detail to believe it is just as important. May I suggest that growing in what one believes comes from careful study and deciding if you believe what you have read and studied. Once the decision is made that you do believe, then one must act upon it. One must not rely on the preacher alone. One must not rely on the writing of a blog alone. Another person’s experience certainly encourages another in their walk on the narrow way. Nothing takes the place of experiencing God’s grace in their life.

In the book of Acts the Bereans were mentioned because they took time to study the Scriptures for themselves. Believers should be as dedicated to reading/studying/meditating on God’s Word as the Bereans. Read God’s Word for yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you. When reading ask yourself the question Jesus asked Martha. He taught her a very specific doctrine; He was the resurrection. He was the life. If one believes in Him, he will live even though he dies. Believe in Jesus and one will never die. “Do you believe this?”

Martha replied that she believed. She took Him at His word. There are difficult doctrines in the Bible. There are some things I read that are just contrary to my experience – just like Martha. If what Jesus said was true, why did Lazarus die? He believed in Him. Jesus had to ask her if she believed even though her experience did not line up with what He said.

That brings us to the question, “Do you believe this?” My next question is what is “this”? The answer is simply anything you might not understand, even find difficult to believe due to your experience. Jonah being swallowed by a great fish. Nicodemus not understanding about being born again. Three Hebrews in a fire but not harmed or even smelling like smoke. What does it mean to eat the flesh of Jesus and drink His blood? “This” is any doctrine or promise you might have trouble believing or understanding. It is those things we are called on to believe in faith by believing “all Scripture is God breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”.

Do you believe Romans 8:28 that tells us “All things work for good to those who love God and are called to His purpose?” Do you believe Hebrews 13:5 which tells us, “The Lord will never leave or for sake you?”  Do you believe Psalm 37:4 which tells us, “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart?”  Do you believe God will give you strength when you are tired? “Do you believe this?”

Settle and establish in your heart what you believe about God’s Word. Then know that God will do what He says He will do. It will be done according to what He has said, what He has established. May your faith be increased and may your walk on the narrow way be a little stronger.