Every person who calls Jesus their Lord and Savior should be in an intertwining process of belief, doctrine and discipleship.  Ok, that may not have made any sense to you, so here it is another way: you have to believe, but you need to know what you believe, and what you believe needs to be changing your life.  This week’s devo tackles this process; check it out…

Meditate daily on 1 Timothy 4:16

Monday:    The Christian life begins with belief in the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God and what the Word says about him is true.  Do you really, I mean really, believe that.  If so, that simple belief should lead you to other things.  The other things then will begin to change your life.  How concrete is your belief?  Can it be shaken?  Acts 16:31

Tuesday:    Our belief, our faith, in God and the things of God needs to be that of the Centurion.  He simply believed Jesus at his word.  No questions, no doubt, no hesitation. Though our mind at times with try to reason with the things of God, if we are concrete in our belief and resolute in our heart, we will continue on in simple faith.  Look at the things of God.  See what’s in his Word.  Do you believe it what the Word says?   Matthew 8:5-13 

Wednesday:    If you will believe in God’s Word, then you need to know what you believe.  We start with belief in God and that Jesus is the Son of God.  We believe what the Bible says about him.  But the Word has so much more than that.  It sets forth living in the will and ways of God, showing the life that God intends you to live.  You must have established in your heart and mind that you will live by the Word and will live by faith in the things of God.   Is the Bible the funnel for the way you live?  2 Timothy 3:16

Thursday:    What needs to happen now, after your belief in the things of God and your commitment to live by the Bible, is your life needs to be lived in positive response to the revelation of these things.  In other words, how is your life being affected by your belief in God, in Jesus, and in the Bible.  Is there anything happening that reflects your belief.  Or do you say you believe and pretty much leave it there.  The life of the Christian is the life of faith which is lived based on the things of God.  Is this a good description of how you live?  Romans 1:17 

Friday:        How can your life begin to reflect what you say you believe?  Re-think you life based on the truth of Jesus Christ and what the Bible reveals.  When you re-think your life- everything like relationships, how you act in school, the kind of media you listen to and watch, etc- you will find things that need changed and then you need to get in the process of changing those things.  With the help of the Holy Spirit you will begin to change what needs changed and keep on in the things that were already good.  Have you been re-thinking your life based on the truth of Jesus Christ?  Romans 12:2 

Saturday:    So in the end what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?  Transformation.  A life lived that reflects a true relationship with God.  God in your life.  The Bible and the Holy Spirit directing you.  Evident change and differences to the pattern of the world.  God is pleased with faith and pleased with the process of the Christian life.  Are you truly a disciple of Jesus?  Matthew 4:19

Sunday:    One thing you must keep doing:  Keep growing in the knowledge of the things of God.  You will then continually have things to strive for and things to put faith towards.  Revelation of the things of God will continually happen throughout your life.  Through the Word, Holy Spirit, instruction from those around you such as parents & pastors.  Keep learning!  Colossians 1:10