what does it mean to believe?

I've been challenged lately in what believe actually means. Is it just giving mental assent to something? Or is more than that?

Most of the time in our society, the word believe mean just giving mental assent to something. It's little more than saying you agree with a statement about something. It makes believing in something pretty easy. There is nothing required of you to believe in something the way the word is commonly used today.

But, a couple of weeks ago, I was reminded that in Scripture the word believe means so much more than that. Over and over Romans 4 uses the phrase "Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness." When you read the story of Abraham's life in Genesis beginning in chapter 17, you see that the belief of Abraham was not just mentally saying it made sense. Abraham believing God meant that he took action on it.

(I make no claim to be a Greek scholar, but this study challenged me on how I understand and use the word believe in my own life.) The word translated "believe" in Romans 4 is the Greek word "pisteou" and is verb. A verb implies that there's an action involved. If an action is involved, then believe has to mean more than just mentally agreeing that something it right. There has to be an action that flows from that mental agreement. When you read through Scripture and the various places that the words believe or faith are used, it becomes clear that action is a part of those words - that they require us to do something.

So, maybe this is something to think about. What do we typically mean when we use the words believe or faith? Does it involve any action on our part or can we just sit back and say we agree? Should there be a change in how we understand the meaning of these words?

transformed by being with Jesus

I have been reading through the Gospels and Acts lately and one thing has continued to jump out at me. Every time i turn a page to read more I am struck by the fact that it was being with Jesus that transformed the disciples into the early church leaders they became. The disciples did not go to come special school or conference to be changed. They simply spent time with Jesus - they spent everyday life with Jesus.

I think that is the way that we are transformed into who Jesus wants us to be today. It may look different but we transformed by being with Jesus - by doing everyday life with Jesus. We may not physically see the Person of Jesus sitting across from us or walking next to us, but we can still choose to allow Him to be a part of our every day life. That is was transforms us. That is how we become more and more like Christ.

So how do we choose to make Jesus a part of our every day lives?

I think that 1 Thessalonians 5:17 gives us a pretty good place to start when it says: "pray continually." This means we make conversation with God a part of everything we do. It does not have to be getting down on our knees and spending an hour praying. Although there is a time and a place for more focused prayer, praying continually means that we include in our every day life by talking to Him about as our day happens.

The other way we spend time with Jesus is by setting aside time to read His Word and to listen for what He might have to say to us. People call this many things - devotions, Bible study, personal time, quiet time, etc. What you call it does not matter. What it actually looks like does not matter. What matters is that you take time to spend with Jesus - time where you focus on Him and what He has to say.

Ultimately the ways we choose to make Jesus a part of our every day lives sound simple, but are a little more difficult to actually follow through with. We get caught up in life and often that means Jesus takes a backseat. But this is not how it is meant to be. And it is not how we become transformed like the disciples who spent three years living life with Jesus. But, if we truly desire transformation and to become more like Christ, then we need to spend time with Jesus - however that looks for you. Each person is different and things look different. But, what should be the same is that it becomes a priority in our lives.

friday night ramblings...

I spent last week back in the prairie town where I went to Bible college. I was visiting my sister and brother-in-law. It was a good chance to reconnect with a couple of friends from my time living there who still live in the area. And it made me reflect on what made me love being in that place.

As I walked around the town and through some of the buildings, there were many memories that came flooding back. The dorm I lived in . . . laughter, fun, tears, conversations with friends, all-nighters to finish that paper that was due in the morning, cramming for exams. The house where my dorm mom lived . . . laughter, chocolate nights, turkey dinners, a "home away from home." The chapel . . . great worship, challenging messages, drama productions, Youth Quake mayhem. The academic building . . . challenging classes, lots of studying. The cafeteria . . . decent food for a cafeteria, a table where there's always room for one more no matter how full it already is, theology debates. So many places that hold these memories that go with even though it has been a few years since I graduated.

Being back this time felt a little different. It was still good to be there. But it also reminded me that there are seasons in life. Times when a certain place has a pull. And where lifelong memories aer created. That school is a place I will always love. But, the memories from when I attended there go with me beyond there. They have shaped who I am today. The dorm-mates, the professors, the admin staff I worked with, the people who spoke in chapel, the classmates I worked on projects with and sat in class with, the friends I made who are still friends of mine today . . . they all shaped who I am today. And that is something that is not tied to that place.

Sometimes I wonder if we have a great experience in a place and we become attached to that place - thinking that we need to go there to feel that all again. But, really what happens is that we carry that experience with us from that point on. We can still love to go to that place. We can still have memories that seem that much more poignant when we are there. But, that event, those people, that message goes with us for the rest of our lives. It becomes a part of who we are. It shapes us.

I have been thinking lately about who has played a role in who I am today. And what experiences in my life have played a role in who I am today. The list that keeps growing is surprising to me. Some of the people or experiences coming to mind I had not thought about in years, but looking back I can see how they did play a role in making me who I am today. Not all of the people or memories are positive, but looking back even many of the negative ones have played a role in making me who I am.

What about your life? Who has played a role in making you who you are? What experiences have played a role in making you who you are?

As I have had some of these names come up, I have realized that many of these people probably have no clue about the impact they had in my life. Then I realized that through the technology of today I have a way to contact many of them. And I have been endeavoring to tell them - to let them know that I appreciate their impact in my life.

How about you? Is there someone on your life who you need to let know the impact they made in your life? To thank them for how they helped to shape you to be who you are today?