The first discovery a Christian needs to make is that he cannot of himself live the Christian life. “Christ liveth in me…” (Galatians 2:20). It has been said that living the Christian life is not so much our responsibility but our response to His ability. Paul did not say, “To me to live is Christ first.” It was Christ – period! Christ was first, last, and everything between. Christ is not a way to live, He is our life!
Devotion of the Day
BELIEVING IS OBEYING
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.
I John 3:23
It is often overlooked that God commands us to believe. He does not merely invite or urge, He commands it. Living in unbelief or uncertainty is outright disobedience. We do not honor God by indecision and doubt. It is faith that pleases Him. We ought to come to Christ immediately and trust Him and never waver, because He has bidden us come and believe and we can do anything we ought to do. He inclines us to come by His Spirit, for certainly neither the flesh nor the devil ever impelled a man toward Christ. You may be sure that He is working in you to will and do of His good pleasure, and if you will to obey Him by believing as best you know how, you may be certain He will not cast you out.
It is simple obedience to believe. Therefore “repent ye and believe the gospel.” “God commandeth all men everywhere to repent.” “And this is his commandment, that we should believe.”