The Authentic Christian LifeMuestra

Believe and Become

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments.Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome… Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. —1 John 5:5-12

Are you a surfer or a surfboard rider?

Surfing is way more than a sport. Many would say it is a lifestyle, but there is another even deeper level. For some, surfing is not a lifestyle – it is an identity. I am not simply a surfboard rider (the behavior) I am a surfer (an identity).

In a similar way, today’s chapter, 1 John 5, talks about your new identity as a child of God. Everyone who believes (that Jesus is the Christ) becomes (a child of God).

This then flows into your behavior of loving others – which is an expression of your love for God and His love for you. Living as a follower of Jesus is not about information, it is about transformation. You and I belong to the truth even more than we believe it or behave it.

Our truth is a person before it is a doctrine. God’s focus is on us becoming our true identity as his children. So as you finish up this plan today, I challenge you to do two simple things.

1. Accept the testimony of God. There are times I wish God would make Himself more plain and give me more evidence for this Jesus being His Son, as He claimed. But the big three of the water (Jesus’ baptism and God’s voice at the event), the blood (Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection) and the spirit (His inner conviction within our hearts that assures us this is real and true) are enough for me. Are they enough for you?
2. Find your life in the only true Source of life: Jesus, God’s Son. Don’t expect God to align His plans to suit your life … your job is to align your life with God’s plans. God offers you eternal life in His Son. This is a ‘God guarantee’ and He has given you His Spirit to make it possible. Eternal life is not ‘life after death’. It is a life with God now.

Go deeper:

• Do you know that you know that you have eternal life? What difference would that make, not just to believe in God but to believe God?
• Are you growing in your faith? What are some of the challenges that God has put to you through this plan? How will you respond?

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