June 1 I Monday
2 Chronicles 15-16
John 12:27-50

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” —John 20:31

If someone were to ask us, “Do you believe there are men on Mars?” we would probably say “yes” or “no.” But if someone were to ask us, “Do you believe in Aspirin?” it is a different question from the former, which is asking, “Do you believe there are little green men living on Mars?” Our answer would either be “yes” or “no.” But when asked, “Do you believe in Aspirin?” it is not asking, “Do you believe there are little white pills in a drug store with a letter ‘A’ on them?” There is an assumption behind the question that we know the existence of Aspirin. Hence, the question is really asking is, “Do you believe that Aspirin will do you good?”
Similarly, when the Bible talks about belief, it talks about believing in God. It is not simply an exercise of the mind in a way that a person might believe there is life in outer space somewhere. It is something far deeper than that.
When we talk about belief in God, we may believe there is a God somewhere but truthfully, that will leave us cold and with little interest beyond once in a while acknowledging it. God cannot be known theoretically as some vague belief: “Yes, I believe there is a God out there somewhere. When I look at the vastness of the universe, somebody must have made it. There are bits and pieces of evidence for a great mind behind the existence of our world. Therefore, I believe somewhere up there, there is a God.” While this may be the level at which many of us begin our search for a personal experience of God, that in itself is not sufficient.
Rather, the God that the Bible reveals to us is Someone to be known through our experience of having a relationship with Him. Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent” (John 17:3). If we do not have a relationship with God, may we begin by praying, “Lord Jesus Christ, please come into my life. Take over as my Lord, as my Master and as my King. Forgive me of my sins that hinder my relationship with You. By your Holy Spirit, make Your home in my heart.”
There will be times when we experience God clearly at work in our lives but there are other times when the work of God is not something dramatic, obvious or easily explained. Yet, God is always with us through it all as He promised: “[I] will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:8.
Prayer: Precious Jesus, more than just a belief that You exist is that I can personally experience a relationship with You. Thank You that You never leave me or forsake me. Praise You!