Monday, January 31, 2011

From Permit to License

Acts 15:8-9

8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

Has anyone ever asked you why you believe what you believe? If asked at any moment would you be able to give a quick synopsis on why you have the faith you have or why you do what you do? Believers that came from Judea started making unsavory demands on the Gentiles on how they ought to show how they are believers in Jesus Christ. The question then becomes what makes one a believer? First and foremost one must believe that Jesus is the son of God and was sent to die for your sins and mine and be raised from the grave that we may have everlasting life. One must also believe that Jesus left us a comforter known as the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the embodiment of truth sent to us that is to live inside of us if we claim Jesus as the son of God who shared the essence of God. Ultimately the stance is one of faith. But why do you have the faith you have? Was is it because someone told you should believe or was it because of personal experience? The experience of others will carry you for some time but eventually, you must have your own faith. God extended the faith to Gentiles for the advancement of the gospel.

As it is with anything life, learning lessons from others is great!! But if you never learn anything for yourself, then you are just regurgitating information. Having a permit to drive is great but if you never get out on the road, you will never graduate to having an actual license. Having a license is awesome but if you never push yourself farther, you will only stick to the roads you know at the times that are safest. Let this be the year that you understand why your faith is what it is. Not simply just giving information, but a heart felt experience. If you don't have a heart felt experience, then you are only operating with a permit.

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