Believing

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38

This statement has been for me one of the most hopeful of all of Jesus’ promises. To think that a human being like me could become a continuous source of blessing to others is to envision an entirely new person and an entirely new world.

I believe this statement describes exactly what Jesus came to do in my life. He came not only to forgive me and guarantee a place for me in heaven. He came to restore me to God’s original purpose for my existence. I exist to deliver love and life to others and He dwells in Me as the restoration of this purpose.

The source of this life and love is clearly in Jesus. The receiving of this life is believing. We need to be clear on who Jesus is and we need to be clear on what it means to believe.

I think most sincere Christians have a clear vision of Jesus as “God with us”. Many have a very clear picture of Jesus as “God for us.” Some have a clear picture of “Christ in us.” What many of us need for spiritual formation is a clear picture of what it means to believe.

Here is how I think of believing.

I believe fully in Jesus when He has truly become the continuous source of all the satisfactions I once sought elsewhere.

As Jesus becomes more and more the continous source of all of my satisfaction, the Divine ability to sustain love and deliver love to others increases as the natural fruit of Jesus’ complete formation in me as my living Source and Satisfaction.

As God perfects my believing He perfects my love.

“The just shall life by faith” Romans 1:17. As God shows me just how completely Jesus is able to satisfy me moment by moment, He also shows me how all satisfaction received from God through Jesus is supernaturally transformed into life and love for others. Life and love for others is being just.

When a person first says “I believe in Jesus” that is the beginning of learning to completely believe in Jesus. I am certain none of us understands completely how much pure satisfaction exists in Jesus who dwells in us. We have to grow into such a full belief with God’s help.

When Paul said in Colossians 3:11 that “Jesus is all and is in all” I see a challenge and possibility for us to grow in faith because all we will ever need is already there in Him waiting for us.

Do you want to love better? Do you want to be just? Believe more in Jesus today than yesterday. Find Him more satisfying to your soul today than yesterday. People who need your love will be blessed more today when you do. Let the river flow.