Believe in Others Like Jesus Believes in Me

In 1 Corinthians 13:7 it says, “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” (NLT)  “If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.” (TLB)

Jesus believes in me. There is plenty of proof in his Word, the Bible! Verses such as:

“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20 NIV).

“Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23 NIV).

“If you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more” (Matthew 21:21 TLB).

Jesus believes I can do all these things because he knows that, when I place my trust in him, his Spirit will live in me. He also wants me to help others believe this about themselves. The apostle Paul offered this encouragement: “I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you” (Romans 1:12 NCV).

Each day I will encounter people with low self-esteem. Everybody has insecurities. And many people are repeatedly playing a tape in their mind of when someone said to them long ago that they wouldn’t amount to anything.

How can people reverse a curse others have tried to place on them? I can help be the catalyst that can help them start believing what Jesus says about them, instead of believing what other people say.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:7, “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” (NLT) The living Bible version says, “If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him” (TLB).

This is what God wants me to do. He wants me to show faith in others so they can believe what God says about them.

One of the best ways I do this in the church is by being part of a small group. When I have a really tough week and I’m doubting and down and discouraged, I need a group of trusted people who will believe in and are for me. And I can do the same for them. Followers of Jesus don’t just believe in Christ. We also believe in each other.

My faith can help grow the faith of others as I believe in them like Jesus believes in me.

God's kind of love is directed toward others, not inward toward myself. It is utterly unselfish. This kind of love goes against my natural inclination. It is impossible to have this love unless God help me set aside my own desires to that I can love and not expect anything in return. The more I become like Christ, the more love I will show others.

For a long time I had insecurities that have kept me from believing in myself like Jesus believes in me. By spending time in God’s Word and through relationships in small groups I was able to see and realize how God sees me.

In summary, tell it like it could be. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always helpful, and endures through every circumstance.  Love always looks for the best. When I have high expectations of someone, I don't tell them like it is, rather I tell them like it could be. I believe in what God wants to do in and through that person, and I affirm God's purpose for them. Because I expect them to be better, they will rise to the challenge. I will shape those around me by my expectations of them. When I expect the best, I'm reflecting the lasting love of Jesus. 

When I Ask for Something, Believe God Will Answer

In Mark 11:24 I read, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (NIV)

If I gave you a check today for a thousand dollars, would you withhold your thanks until you knew it wouldn’t bounce? Anyone who knows me would think, “This is a pretty good guy. I can trust that he has enough in his account to cover it. I’ll thank him right now.” You’d thank me first—and then you’d take the check to the bank.

God’s promises are better than any of our promises. Before I even receive what he has promised, I can say, “Thank you, God. I know that what you promised will happen and you’ll do what you say you will do.

There’s a great example of this in God’s “Faith Hall of Fame” in Hebrews 11. Remember how Joshua led the Israelites around Jericho, where the walls fell down? How did the walls fall down? Hebrews 11:30 says, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days” (NIV).

The people of Israel were going into the Promised Land, where the powerful city of Jericho was located. God promised he was going to let the Israelites into the city and then gave them his plan. It went something like this: “I want you to go and march around Jericho for seven days. Then on the seventh day, I want you to march around the city seven times, thanking me for the victory that’s going to come.” And when they did that, the walls just fell. God did what he’d promised! 

What if I’d been one of those people marching around the walls for seven days?  I’m sure some of them must have been looking at the walls, getting more and more worried and wondering how God could ever bring the walls down. But a lot of those people had faith instead. And every day they looked at the wall and thought about what God could do and thanked him in advance.

This is the kind of life that God wants me to live, the thanking-God-in-advance kind of life. Jesus talked about it in Mark 11:24: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (NIV).

When I ask God for something, why even ask if I don’t believe? It’s an empty exercise.

Jesus said that if I pray and ask God for something, I should believe he’s going to do it. Thank him in advance for what only he can do. And then look for how he answers your prayer.

In summary, God’s promises are better than any of our promises. Before I even receive what he has promised, I can say, “Thank you, God. I know that what you promised will happen and you’ll do what you say you will do. There’s a great example of this in God’s “Faith Hall of Fame” in Hebrews. Hebrews 11:30 says, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell”. God promised he was going to let the Israelites into the city and then gave them his plan. He told them to go and march around Jericho for seven days. On the seventh day, I want you to march around the city seven times, thanking me for the victory that’s going to come.” And when they did that, the walls just fell. God did what he’d promised!  What if I’d been one of those people marching around for seven days?  I’m sure some I might have been looking at the walls, getting more and more worried and wondering how God could ever bring the walls down. But a lot of those people had faith instead. And every day they looked at the wall and thought about what God could do and thanked him in advance. This is the kind of life that God wants me to live, the thanking-God-in-advance kind of life. When I ask God for something, why even ask if I don’t believe? It’s an empty exercise. Jesus said that if I pray and ask God for something, I should believe he’s going to do it. Thank him in advance for what only he can do. And then look for how he answers your prayer.

My prayers are often motivated by my own interests and desires. I like hearing that I can have anything. But Jesus prayed with God's interests in mind. When I pray, I can express my desires, but I should want his will above my own. Check to be sure my prayers are focused on my interests or on God's. 

Praying to Be a Person of Belief and Vision

In John 3:3 I read, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (NIV)

When Moses and the Israelites were on the border of Canaan, God wanted them to enter the Promised Land in faith. But most of the spies Moses sent came back spreading fear about giants in the land.

Although two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, told them they could defeat the giants, the Israelites sadly chose to believe the majority report of fear, not the minority report of faith. They didn’t believe the promise of God. As a result, they wandered and died in the desert over the next 40 years, until a new generation grew up and was allowed to go into the Promised Land.

“So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief” (Hebrews 3:19 NIV). That’s one of the saddest verses in the Bible. And it makes me wonder, “What blessing of God am I missing out on because of my unbelief?” To me, hell would be if God were to show me what he could have done in my life if I had believed him just a little bit more.

What blessing of God am I missing right now, simply because I don’t believe? What will I miss if I’m looking at the future with eyes of fear, and not faith?

The starting point for getting God’s vision for my life is to first put my trust in Jesus Christ. I need to ask him to put his Spirit into my life. It’s the only way I’ll ever be able to see with eyes of faith and get God’s vision.

Jesus says, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3 NIV).

When I was born physically, I got the sense of sight. When I’m spiritually born again, I get a new set of spiritual eyes. I can see spiritual things I didn’t see before. Unless I’m born again, I can never see all that God has in store for my life.

Jesus had some friends that were siblings: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Lazarus died, and Jesus raised him back to life. And when he did, he reminded Mary and Martha: “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (John 11:40 NIV)

How badly do I want to see God’s glory in my life? I’ve got to stop nursing my worries and make some commitments in faith. I’ve got to step out and move against my fears.

Remember that God has brought me through so much, and he has a great future for me.

God’s plans for me are good! Lay aside my eyes of fear and begin to see with eyes of faith so that I can get God’s vision.

In summary, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. When Moses and the Israelites were on the border of Canaan, God wanted them to enter the Promised Land in faith. Most of the spies Moses sent came back spreading fear about giants in the land. The Israelites sadly chose to believe the majority report of fear, not the minority report of faith. They didn’t believe the promise of God. They wandered and died in the desert over the next 40 years, until a new generation grew up and was allowed to go. “So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief” (Hebrews 3:19 NIV). That’s one of the saddest verses in the Bible. And it makes me wonder, “What blessing of God am I missing out on because of my unbelief?” Hell would be if God were to show me what he could have done in my life if I had believed him just a little bit more. So what blessing of God am I missing, simply because I don’t believe? The starting point for getting God’s vision for my life is to first put my trust in Jesus Christ. I need to ask him to put his Spirit into my life. It’s the only way I’ll ever be able to see with eyes of faith and get God’s vision. How badly do I want to see God’s glory in my life? I’ve got to stop nursing my worries and make some commitments in faith. I’ve got to step out and move against my fears. God has brought me through so much, and he has a great future for me. God’s plans for me are good! Lay aside my eyes of fear and begin to see with eyes of faith so that I can get God’s vision.

In this chapter, what did Nicodemus know about the Kingdom? From the Bible he knew it would be ruled by God, it would be restored on earth, and it would incorporate God's people. Jesus revealed to this devout Pharisee that the Kingdom would come to the whole world, (John 3:16), not just the Jews, and that Nicodemus wouldn't be part of it unless he was personally born again. This was a revolutionary concept: The Kingdom is personal, not national or ethnic, and it's entrance requirements are repentance and spiritual rebirth. Jesus later taught that God's Kingdom has already begun in the hearts of believers. It will be fully realized when Jesus returns again to judge the world and abolish evil forever.  

Developing Strong Convictions

In Hebrews 11:1 I read, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (NRSV)

Dictionaries define “conviction” as a fixed or strong belief, but conviction is much more than that. In addition to my beliefs, my convictions include my values, commitments, and motivations.

Howard Hendricks put it like this, “A belief is something you will argue about. A conviction is something you will die for.”

My convictions determine my conduct. They motivate me to take a stand and act according to my values.

When I first became a Christian, I often did things simply because Christians around me suggested or modeled them. I may pray, read the Bible, and attend church services because of their example.

This is fine for a new Christian; little children learn the same way. However, as I grow, I must eventually develop my own reasons for doing what I do. Those reasons become convictions.

Biblical convictions are essential for spiritual growth and maturity. Ironically, many people today have strong convictions about minor issues, like football or fashion. At the same time, they have weak convictions about major issues, like what is right and what is wrong.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (NRSV).

Developing strong, biblical convictions takes time and commitment. But it’s worth it. In the long run, they’ll help me live a consistent, faith-driven life.

In summary, dictionaries define “conviction” as a fixed or strong belief, but conviction is much more. In addition to my beliefs, my convictions include my values, commitments, and motivations. “A belief is something you will argue about. A conviction is something you will die for.” My convictions determine my conduct. They motivate me to take a stand and act according to my values. I often did things simply because Christians around me suggested or modeled them. However, as I grow, I must eventually develop my own reasons for doing what I do. Those reasons become convictions. Biblical convictions are essential for spiritual growth and maturity. Ironically, many have strong convictions about minor issues. At the same time, they have weak convictions about major issues, like what is right and what is wrong. Biblical faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Developing strong, biblical convictions takes time and commitment. In the long run, they’ll help me live a consistent, faith-driven life.

Faith is the confidence based on past experience that God's new and fresh surprises will surely be ours. Two words describe faith: confidence and assurance. These two qualities need a secure beginning and ending point. The beginning point of faith is believing in God's character. He is who he says. The end point is believing in God's promises: He will do what he says. When we believe that God will fulfill his promises even though we don't see those promises materializing yet, we demonstrate true faith.

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.