B.E.L.I.E.V.E. Romans 11:21
For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you.I am always amazed at the Word I read every day. On every page, in every iota of every i, I can't get past the truth of God. Did you hear it in today's verse?
I first heard it today in a big A-ha moment (Rom. 9:13) that I may explain some other day. Then the Word rang out repeatedly -- almost as if the church bells struck 24 times because it was midnight -- through Romans 9-12. If you are puzzled where I am going with this, I will spell it out for you.
B.E.L.I.E.V.E.
Every day God calls us to believe. Believe the Word. Believe in the Word. Believe in God. Believe in Christ. Believe that Jesus is the Christ. Believe that Jesus died for you. Believe that he is risen, he is risen indeed! Believe that you have been justified. Believe that you are being sanctified. Believe, and be saved.
"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Romans 10:8-11Paul can't say it any more plain than that. The pursuit of righteousness comes by faith (Rom. 9:30); your works aren't going to save you (Rom. 9:31-32). Christ fulfilled the law and did the work for you (Rom. 10:4). Everyone who seeks God, everyone who turns to God, will be saved (Rom. 10:13).
Hear the word, every day, so that you too can believe, every day (Rom. 10:17). The consequence of turning away from God, the consequence of turning away from the Word is you can wither up and die. That's the underlying truth of today's verse. You believe by hearing God's Word, the tree root of faith. You believe by studying God's Word, recognizing God, and getting nourished by the Word. You believe because of the Word, which was with God in the beginning and became flesh (John 1:1-14).
Those who stop hearing God's Word can wither away in unbelief.
Turn to the Word.
And B.E.L.I.E.V.E.