Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
In our day and age, there's a lot of confusion about what it means to believe and follow Jesus. I remember having a conversation with a woman and I was sharing the gospel with her, and I asked her, "Do you believe in Jesus?" She said, "Yeah, I'm spiritual." I said, "Okay, but do you believe in Jesus?" She replied, "Yeah, I believe in Jesus." When we got to talking, I actually found that we weren't talking about the same Jesus.
She didn't believe that Jesus was fully God, fully man. That Jesus is the only way to get to the Father. We were talking about two completely different people. I share that because in our text today, Peter tells us this: Through Christ, you have come to trust in God. It's only through Christ that you and I can have a relationship with God. Jesus is the door to having a personal relationship with God.
Faith Must Be Personal
Here's why that matters. It matters because when He says, Through Christ, you have come to trust in God, that faith has to be personal. We can't just say, "Oh, I believe" and not have a relationship with God and not follow God. When my faith is personal, that means I've acknowledged my sin. I've confessed my sin. Just because I was born in a family that loves God, just because my mom or my dad love God, that doesn't make me a Christian. My faith has to be personal.
I live in the Bible Belt here in the south, and we have a lot of different churches around here. Just because I live in the south doesn't automatically make me a Christian. My faith has to be personal.
Why We Have Hope
Then Peter says, And you have placed your faith and hope in God. Here's why: Because He raised Christ from the dead. Why do we place our faith and hope in God? Because He rose from the dead. Because Jesus rose from the dead. Why does the resurrection matter? It reminds me that God is able. Think about that. God is able.
If God is able to raise Jesus from the dead, He could handle my anxiety. He can handle my depression. He can handle my doubt. He can heal my body. That's good news.
I don't know what you're wrestling with today. Maybe you have some health giant. Maybe it's a financial giant or family tension. Whatever giant you're facing today, let me remind you today that God is able. I want to encourage you: cast your cares upon Him because He not only cares, but He is able.
