To Faith Through Life

May 10 Saturday of the 3rd week of Easter: 

A thought for those who want to bear prophetic witness through lifestyle

Acts 9:31-42; Psalm 116:12-13, 14-15, 16-17; John 6:60-69

“It is the spirit that gives life... The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” John 6:63

We don’t believe in Jesus because we accept the Bible; we believe in the Bible because we accept Jesus. Many of Jesus’ disciples said, “His teaching is hard; who can accept it?” But Peter said, “To whom (not to what) shall we go? We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” Because we know Jesus we say with Peter, “You have the words of eternal life.” Christianity is a loving, trusting relationship with the person of Jesus. Everything else follows from that.

What is our love, hope and faith in Christ’s words based on? Jesus said it comes from the experience of a new life given by the Father through the gift of the Holy Spirit. “It is the spirit that gives life....” The words he speaks are credible to us because when we live them, we experience Spirit and life. If we don’t live by them, we don’t experience the Spirit, and our faith is dead (see James 2:14-26; Matthew 7:27). So we look for Christ, and we find Christ, through living by his words.

Church growth depends on “the consolation of the Holy Spirit.”

PRAY: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And enkindle in us the fire of your love.”

PRACTICE: Where you don’t experience faith, live faith and you will experience it.