“⁶For it stands in Scripture: ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’ ⁷So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’ ⁸and ‘A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.’ They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.” – 1 Peter 2:6-8 (ESV)

Stone masons would spend a great amount of time choosing the right stones to be placed for a building. And no stone was as important as the cornerstone of a structure as it was there to support the entirety of the structure. Imaging God as the ultimate stone mason and as He chooses stones for his church, He is determined to choose just the right stones.

When I read this scripture, I am reminded of how important I am to the growth and building of God’s church. I am just a man, but you can see that with my belief, I have been chosen as a building block of the church. I with all of my flaws and failures and imperfections, am still chosen by God to be a part of God’s plans. God chose me as a stone for His church.

The choice of me is rooted in my belief. As I have believed, I have been chosen. I look at the second part of verse 7 and verse 8 and realize that my belief determines my use or not. You see, when I choose not to believe, I am cast aside for a structure not as important as God’s church. I then become a stumbling block for others as I lay in the street without a purpose.

My purpose is to glorify God and through that glory, I am counted as a building block for the church. My belief gets me there and my continued belief, faith, and works in and for Christ gives me the strength to continue in my walk with Him.

Where is your belief? You to can be chose, will you believe? Will you allow yourself to be a building block of the church, or a stumbling block for those around you?

What is belief and faith without works?

“²⁶For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” – James 2:26 (ESV)

As a follower of Christ, I inherently believe. But that is not where it stops. I am to also be working for the glory of God. And that work is the demonstration of my faith and belief. I am justified in my faith by the work I do.

“²¹Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?…²⁵And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?” – James 2:21 & 25 (ESV)

I am accepted by my faith and I am justified by the works done in and through that faith. And all of the acceptance and justification is done through Christ and not of the world. The judgment of this world is not what I am concerned with. It is my duty to work for my Lord and Savior and allow Him to receive the glory of my work. If I am not accepted by those around me, I do not concern myself with that.

My belief in Christ is where I begin and once I believe I am able to enact my faith. My faith is where I get my direction and strength and with that direction and strength I am led to the work for and that pleases God.

Are you able to believe? Is your belief allowing you to enact your faith? Is your faith providing the direction and strength that lead to your work for God?

Is it possible to grow closer to someone or something without knowing or believing. I have to qualify that statement with this. I understand that things can get closer in proximity based on the laws of physics. What I am speaking of is in the heart. Is it possible to draw nearer without truly knowing of the existence?

“⁶And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

NO, it is not possible. I can see how one might think that they know of God and that will suffice in the knowing, but I have to go back to the thoughts of having information and having knowledge. Information can be found anywhere, and it is there for me to locate when I am looking for it. Knowledge is there when I need it and is a part of me.

I have to be willing and able to grow in knowledge of God in order to grow nearer to Him. In order to grow in knowledge, I have to first believe in Him and seek Him out. Waiting for God to come to me will only end in frustration. I have to go looking for Him and believe that He is there. I have to find Him through belief in Him. I have to use my belief in Him to learn more about Him. When I learn more about Him I draw closer to Him. When I draw closer to Him I believe in Him even more. When I believe in Him more, I seek Him more. When I seek Him more, I draw closer to Him.

What a wonderful cycle to be in with God. I have every opportunity to draw nearer to God through my belief in Him.

Are you seeking God? Are you drawing nearer to Him? Are you believing in Him?

I know, the title is a bit simple and seems to go without saying.

“¹⁰For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” – 1 Timothy 4:10 (ESV)

For the non-believer, there may be a sense of confusion with the verse above. Although the letter is written by Paul to Timothy as encouragement and instruction, when read by the non-believer, the words are not as clear. I even have to take a double take and based on the notes in my bible, I have read through this passage a number of times and must have missed this little nugget of wisdom.

The verse above is packed with a lot, and the commentary in my ESV Bible gives some insight as to the meanings of the last part of the verse. “could seem to teach universalism, that every person will eventually go to heaven…There are several other possible explanations for this phrase: (1) It means that Christ died for all people, but only those who believe in him are saved. (2) It means he is offered to all people, though not all receive him. (3) It means ‘the Savior of all people, namely, those who believe’. (4) It means ‘the helper of all people,’ to refer not to forgiveness of sins but to God’s common grace by which God helps and protects people in need. (5) It means ‘the Savior of all kinds of people, not Jews only but both Jews and Greeks.’ In any case, the emphasis is on God’s care for the unsaved world, and in the flow of the letter Paul is stressing once more that God’s will that people would be saved is the basis of the universal mission.”

There is a lot to unpack in that comment, but what I get out of it and the verse is that regardless of who you are, what your background, where you come from, God’s mission of bringing salvation to you is my/our central purpose. I come back to the Great Commission in Matthew:

“¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

Just as Paul indicated to Timothy, I have a job to do and that job is to bring the gospel to ALL. I am to provide the way to salvation at every turn and to every one. I should not concern myself with whether or not they accept the gift of salvation, only offer to everyone and allow the Holy Spirit to do the work on them. That work could be exactly what I bring which is love and care, or it could be to convict them of their need for salvation and allow them to join the ranks of us as believers.

What are you tasked with doing each day? Are you “picking and choosing” who to present the gospel to? Are providing the opportunity of salvation to all, especially believers?

Ever wonder how things will play out when Christ comes again? I was reminded this morning and began thinking and studying what happens.

“¹⁴For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.” – 1 Thessalonians, 4:14-15 (ESV)

“Asleep”, here Paul is referring to those who have died. The Thessalonians were likely concerned for those that had died before the 2^nd coming. Their concern was valid based on the newness of their faith and the ignorance in their belief. Paul assures them that those Christians that had passed from this world would not be forgotten, in fact, they would “awake” and rise even before those still alive.

As Paul refers to the dead Christians as “asleep” indicates that they will again awake and their bodies will be called up. I have no doubt that at death in this world, Christians went to be with the Lord and are in fellowship with Him now. What I am reminded of is that simply their bodies are still here.

I have to think of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He died and in three days rose again. When Jesus died, he went to be with His Father, our Lord in heaven. Then, three days later He returned to wake His body that we all may have an example of what is to come. We have/will die here on earth and our bodies will be left behind. Until the 2^nd coming and our bodies will “wake” and we will be reunited with them in Christ.

I am encouraged by the words written by Paul. I know that my fate has been sealed in my salvation. I have no reason to fear being left behind, as I will indeed return to claim my body with Christ in His return (if He returns after my body has gone asleep).

What are your beliefs related to your passing or the passing of those you love? Are you aware of the impact that the 2^nd coming will have on the bodies of you and your loved ones? Are you able to believe that all Christians will rise at the 2^nd coming of Christ Jesus?

As a Christian I am in prayer. In prayer I do my best to follow the model that Jesus gave to the disciples. Giving thanks is a great part of my prayer each day for that which God has blessed me with. Well, what about those that came before me and are with me in Christ today?

“¹⁶I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,” – Ephesians 1:16 (ESV)

Paul made it a point in his letter to the Ephesians that he was in constant prayer of thanks for them. A bold declaration that he was praying for them constantly, that gets even bolder in the verses that follow.

“¹⁷that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ¹⁸having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might ²⁰that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” – Ephesians 1:17-21 (ESV)

Paul not only tells the Ephesians that he is thankful and praying continuously for them, he tells them why and for what exactly he is praying. It is one thing to indicate that we are praying for someone, however giving them the intimate details of what we are praying brings life and real empathy and love to the prayer and the interaction with the person.

I look back at the times I have told others that I am praying for them, and when I have told them what exactly I am praying for and really see the difference in the eyes and feel the difference in the hearts of those I pray specifics over. Yes, God does know what the person needs, but as a Christian, stating it to the person, especially a fellow believer, I am able to connect them more firmly to the love I have for them and the love that God has for them as His child.

When you pray for others, are you generic? Will you pray for the specific item of need for the individual? Are you bringing love and prayer directly to your brothers and sisters in Christ?

Abraham was was made promised even before the law was enacted. And that promise was to him and his offspring.

“¹⁶Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, ‘And to offsprings,’ referring to many, but referring to one, ‘And to your offspring,’ who is Christ. ¹⁷This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void;” – Galatians 3:16-17 (ESV)

Promises of God are forever and cannot be changed. The covenant that was with Abraham remained in place until Jesus Christ. And even then, the promise of Jesus Christ was in place, so the promise never changed or was added to or subtracted from.

“²¹Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. ²²But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” – Galatians 3:21-22 (ESV)

Promises made by God are unchanged. They cannot be amended. God knows and has known all for all time and when making the promises He has the now and later in mind. I have to believe the promises of God and not hang on the law to get me there. I am a child of God and therefore I believe in the promises of God.

“²⁸There is neither Jew not Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no make and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” – Galatians 3:28-29 (ESV)

What about you, are you relying on the law? Are you aware of the unchanging promise of God? Do you believe in the promise?

Great, eloquent speakers fill the world with rhetoric that mesmerizes the audience. I will admit that I enjoy listening to those that speak well and grandly in the world. But, I am impressed by how they speak and less by what they speak.

“¹⁷For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” – 1 Corinthians 1:17 (ESV)

Paul writes to impress on the Corinthians, that he was not there to wow them with his words and speech. He was sent by God to preach the gospel and it was highly likely that he would not be the great orators of the day that impressed with how they spoke. He was there to preach and allow the Holy Spirit to work among the people as opposed to he himself be revered for his rhetoric.

“¹⁸For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…²¹For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” – 1 Corinthians 1:18 & 21 (ESV)

There are many smart people in the world, and they are able to provide for the world in their own way, and I am grateful for these. That is all they are though, smart for the worldly view of things. My need is much greater than this world and I have to look to the Lord for the wisdom needed to get there. The wisdom provided by God is not found in the world, by the world’s standards. Godly wisdom is found only in Him and His Word. I have to focus on it and not look for elegant speakers to bring it to me. I have to look at His Word and those that are also focused on His Word. I am looking for God’s Wisdom and Salvation, NOT that of the world as brought to me by man.

Where are you looking for wisdom? What is your source of salvation? Are you looking for the speaker or the Word of God?

I have been studying “believe” for the past few weeks and until this morning, I have appeared to see the inward heart action of belief. This morning I was reminded that I not only should believe in my heart, I should also confess with my mouth.

“⁸But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in you mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your hear that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” – Romans 10:8-10 (ESV)

Over the past 3 years with the guidance of God, I have chosen a word to live out for each year. Stand, Example, Authentic in that order. Each year builds on the previous and leads me to my Kingdom Purpose. I have been more of each of them as the days and weeks and months and years have passed and with that I have been more vocal. I have confessed more and as a result have been met with more and more adversity over the past year or so.

Paul writes to guide the readers of the approach to Christ-like living. He encourages and guides me to the way of Christ. He gently, and sometimes not so gently, tells me the truth of what I should be doing and the right way to do it. I am charged with reading and listening and understanding and doing.

Believing in my heart is hard, especially when the adversity continues and even ratchets up. Confessing with my mouth is even harder as I share with those around me the reasons for my actions and the what is in it for me and them. Knowing that my confessions will likely generate even more adversity does not make confessing any easier. But, God is there to provide the actions to take, guidance for those actions, protection against the enemy, and reward in heaven.

Are you one that truly believes? Are you aware of just how hard believing is? What about confession, will you confess with your mouth? Are you able to believe and confess daily?

The first 3 words of the title are pretty morbid there. What I refer to is that if I believe that I have died with Christ for in my sin, I have to believe that I live in the eternal life through His resurrection.

“³Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” – Romans 6:3-4 (ESV)

There is a lot going on in those verses, but what I see in them is that when I accepted the salvation of Christ and was baptized, I died in the sin that was and would be part of my life, and was created anew in the life of Christ as He rose.

I continue to be a sinner, and for that I must repent daily. I am also alive in Christ and live thanks to Him and for Him. I believe that my life prior to salvation was wrought with sin and I was slowly dying to that sin, and now with the life of Christ in my heart, I live a glorious filled life.

“⁸Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we also live with him.” – Romans 6:8 (ESV)

When you think of your life, are you still living in sin? Have you died with Christ? Do you believe you died and now believe you live?