Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone."
Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."
Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"—John 11:38-40
Then Jesus said to them, "A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.—John 12:35-36
The last few days in my daily Bible readings have included exhortations to believe. For me they were good reminders and ones I truly can’t hear enough. I want to honor God by walking continually by faith but often falter either in fear or in forgetfulness. SIGH…
O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.—Romans 7:24-25
Our God’s desire is that none should perish but that all should come to life in His Son. He wants those that have already believed to continue to believe…to walk by faith and not by sight. He came into this world so that we may have life and not just life, but abundant life.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.—John 3:16-17
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.—Romans 5:8-11
Next to both the verses at the very top of this devotional, my Thompson Chain Reference Bible has “faith enjoined” (1202). I went there and am sharing below what I found. Beloved…believe God. Stand on His promises. Hope in Him. His word is faithful and true. His word and His deed match. Oh Father, Unite our hearts to fear Your name!
Faith Enjoined. From Thompson Chain 1202
Assures Success
So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper."—2 Chronicles 20:20
So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.—Mark 11:22-
But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well."—Luke 8:50
A Fundamental Duty
Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?"
Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."—John 6:28-29
Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."—John 20:27
A Defensive Weapon
above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.—Ephesians 6:16
But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.—1 Thessalonians 5:8
having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,—1 Timothy 1:19
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.—1 Timothy 6:12
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.—Hebrews 10:22
An Indispensable Element of Religion
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.—Hebrews 11:6
Essential In Prayer
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.—James 1:5-6
Should Be United With Love
And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.—1 John 3:23
