Believe, Believe, Believe: Moving Beyond Passive Faith

In our journey of faith, we often encounter the phrase "just believe." But what does it truly mean to believe? Is it a passive act of mental assent, or does it require something more? Today, we're diving deep into the concept of belief and exploring how it can transform our lives when we understand its multifaceted nature.
The Three Dimensions of Belief
Our exploration takes us through three crucial dimensions of belief:

1. Believing the Message (Logos)
2. Believing the Miracles (Rhema)
3. Believing in Obedience (Action)

Each of these aspects plays a vital role in developing a faith that is not just informative, but transformative and action-oriented.
Believing the Message: The Logos
The first step in our journey is to believe in the Logos - the divinely inspired Word of God. This is not just about accepting a historical document, but about allowing the scriptures to inform and begin to change us. It's about connecting the dots between ancient prophecies and their fulfillment, just as the early disciples did when they suddenly understood how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies.
However, this belief can be challenged by doubt, confusion, tradition, and pride. These are the "killers of belief" that can poison our receptivity to God's message. The key is to humbly ask for the gift of faith, to let go of our preconceptions and allow God's word to speak to us in new and transformative ways.
Believing the Miracles: The Rhema
Moving beyond the written word, we encounter the Rhema - the living Word of God that transforms us from the inside out. This is where belief becomes more than intellectual assent; it becomes a life-changing force.
Think of the disciples on that first Easter evening. Jesus not only explained the scriptures to them but also "breathed" on them, imparting the Holy Spirit. This divine breath brought not just understanding, but the power to forgive and be forgiven.
This level of belief requires persistence. As Jesus taught in the parable following the Lord's Prayer, we must continually ask, seek, and knock. Our faith is not a one-time event but an ongoing relationship that needs constant nurturing.
Believing in Obedience: Action
Finally, true belief manifests in obedience. It's not enough to understand or even experience God's presence; we must act on what we've received. As the book of James reminds us, "faith without works is dead."
This doesn't mean we earn our salvation through works. Rather, it means that genuine faith naturally leads to action. We are "created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Practical Application: Walking in the Light
So how do we put this three-dimensional belief into practice? Here are some key takeaways:

1. Ask daily for light to guide you
2. Seek courage to act on that guidance
3. Request love to share with others
4. Transform confusion into baby steps of faith
5. Persist in prayer, even when answers seem delayed

Remember, courage isn't the absence of fear, but having more courage than fear. God doesn't expect us to have it all figured out; He simply asks us to take the next step in faith.
The Power of Forgiveness
A central theme that emerges is the power and necessity of forgiveness. Jesus emphasized this immediately after imparting the Holy Spirit to His disciples. He linked our ability to receive forgiveness with our willingness to forgive others.
This isn't always easy. That's why Jesus taught us to pray, "Lead us not into temptation" - which can be understood as "Help us not give up on the journey of forgiveness." It's a process that often requires repeated acts of will, empowered by God's grace.
Staying Childlike in Faith
As we mature in our faith, there's a paradoxical call to remain childlike in our dependence on God. Like a three-year-old constantly seeking a parent's help and approval, we're invited to continually turn to our Heavenly Father for faith, love, and courage.
This doesn't mean we become weak or incapable. On the contrary, this childlike faith enables us to face life's challenges with resilience. As the saying goes, "Getting old is not for sissies." The same could be said for the Christian life. It requires courage, persistence, and a willingness to keep growing and changing.
A Living Faith
In conclusion, to "believe, believe, believe" is not a call to passive acceptance. It's an invitation to a dynamic, transformative relationship with the living God. It starts with receiving the gift of faith to believe His message. It grows as we experience His miraculous work in our lives. And it matures as we step out in obedience, allowing our faith to shape our actions.
This kind of faith doesn't shy away from life's difficulties. Instead, it faces them head-on, armed with the knowledge that God is with us, directing our paths. It's a faith that continually asks for more light, more courage, and more love.
As we embrace this multidimensional belief, we find ourselves not just surviving, but thriving. We discover that our faith is not just about securing a place in heaven, but about bringing a piece of heaven to earth through our transformed lives.
So let's move beyond passive belief. Let's engage with God's Word, open ourselves to His transforming power, and step out in obedient action. For in doing so, we truly begin to live out the good news of the Kingdom of God.