Many times we hear people say they believe in Jesus. There was a time, not to long ago, that I asked a person on the street. The conversation led to me asking if He believed in Jesus. His response was yes. I then asked, so you read the Bible often? He said no. He said that he’s read it once before, a while ago. I then told him that we cannot treat the Bible as any other book. It isn’t meant to be read only once. It is God’s holy book. It is a guide to our life. The only way we can believe in Jesus is if we do the things He says. I then asked him, if he knows what Jesus has for his life. He said no. So I mentioned that although we’d like to believe in Jesus, our faith is dead if we do not follow Him. Jesus said, 1“Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” The Lord knows that the faith of many is dead. Their faith is by word alone and don’t truly know God. These are those that 1“heareth, and doeth not”. They are 1“like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” If our faith isn’t founded on the teachings of Jesus we will fall, not only in life but also in death. Only upon the rock of Jesus can we find eternal life. How great is our salvation in heaven or eternal torment in hell. The choice is ours. What side are you on?
Jesus knows His sheep. They know Him by name and follow His voice. Jesus said, 2“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” However, among the sheep are those pretending to be a part of Jesus’s flock. These are people that go to church but inwardly walk in darkness. They would rather find happiness in the things of the world then to follow Jesus. Even those that don’t go to church look about the same as them. They both would rather do the things that please the lusts of the flesh than to walk in the ways of the Lord. 2“Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.” You may have been outside of the flock of Jesus but there still is hope. Repent, this day. Â Get down on your knees and pray to God with all your heart. Ask for forgiveness of your sins. If you are sincere than Jesus will show mercy. He will help you find true happiness in His presence. You will come to know His great love through His teachings in the Bible. Meditate on His words daily and you will hear His counsel. If you then obey the Lord then you are His. Jesus is your Shepherd. He is your Redeemer and Savior of the world. In Him you have found peace that will continue in life, to death in heaven.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray for everyone that says they believe in you but don’t follow You. May they come to an understanding of the importance of Your salvation. We can only have so much happiness in the world before it will all come tumbling down on us. May their hearts be awakened, even in their broken state. May this desire for true joy lead them to seek You. I know that You are the only way to heaven. May we all come to know You better each day. Feed us with Your words in the Bible. Give us counsel in prayer. Let us know the way, oh Lord. We don’t want to fall flat on our face any longer. Keep us up straight on your narrow path. I trust in You. Help me to always get back on my feet to serve You when I fall. You are my dear Shepherd and my King. When You speak, I will follow You. I love You Lord. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Luke 6:46-49 (KJV)
46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
2John 10:25-29 (KJV)
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
