1 John 5:9-12 - If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that He has borne concerning His Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning His Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
There are some times it's just hard to believe. Days come when we are sad, grieving, frustrated, or upset, and all those good things God has promised us seem to vanish like smoke:
* "Your sins are forgiven for His Name's sake" (1 John 2:12b).
* "Whoever has the Son has life" (1 John 5:12a).
* "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out" (John 6:37).
* "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
* "I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die" (John 11:25-26a).
* "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
We know these things are true; God said them, and we believe Him—and yet there are days we just can't bring ourselves to live as if they are actually true. The weight of our troubles overwhelms us. And then—well, let's confess it: we know we are not worthy; we see our own undeservingness—and we develop a kind of false humility that says, "Oh, that could never be true for me—it's true for everybody else, but not me—it's better for me to remember my place, and not get uppity." And so, when we think like this, we act like slaves when we should be sons and daughters—like outsiders when we are God's beloved ones.
Against this, John says, "Whoever does not believe God makes Him a liar." Ouch! That comes like a slap in the face. Is that what I'm doing with my false humility—calling God a liar? Oh dear. I'd better rethink this!
Let's be clear about this—this verse is not God giving us one more thing to feel guilty about. It is a lot more like what you do when you see your spouse or child thrashing around in bed during a nightmare. You grab them by the shoulder, shake them, and say, "Wake up!" And how happy they are when they wake up and the bad dream is over!
If you are having this problem, this nightmare—that God's promises don't apply to you—here is your wakeup call. God really means it. He loves you, He calls you, and He forgives you—all because of Jesus. He made you His own child through His death and resurrection.
Nothing can separate you from Him, not even the worst of your sins. Trust in Him.
THE PRAYER: Lord, when I have trouble believing, please help me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Tell about a time when something happened you thought was too good to be true.
2. What do you do when doubts come creeping in?
3. What gifts has God given you to strengthen you when you doubt?
Today's Bible Readings: 2 Samuel 10-12 John 3:1-15
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select "Save Link As" or "Save Target As" or "Download Linked File As"