Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
I don't claim that the verse is rightly used by anyone...including myself. Yet there is a constant battle for our belief, isn't there? Not only belief in the report of Christ's saving grace--His amazing,redeeming love--but also belief in one another and ourselves. So much unbelief is the pleasure of the enemy.
Liar. Thief. Satan. Devil. Serpent.
Hate him early and often. Determine against all natural instincts to refuse the lies. Use every last ounce of your strength to utter the great Name of Jesus to bind, rebuke, and dismiss the evil one who would rob you of your faith both by swift, hard blows and slow, numbing half-truths.
Dress out in the full armor of God, then, with love as the maker of each garment. Without it--without love-spun amor--we haven't the first chance of joy. Without it we build our own prisons, starve our own souls, and dig more graves than we realize.
I was watching Ingrid Bergman's portrayal of Anastasia Romanov, today. I was reminded how important it is to be believed and to hang onto those whom we cherish.
Last night, my little girl and I watched Horton Hears a Who and I was struck by the message of persistence and the importance of listening carefully, generously...believingly.
Poor Horton. What humiliation, fear, and pain he endured because no one would believe his report! Thank God for the Hortons and the JoJos in this world...the ones who don't give up on others or themselves...even when all seems lost.
Matthew 11:15 says, He who has ears, let him hear. We don't need elephant ears to believe the the good news of Jesus, or to believe kindly about one another.
Commitment. Courage. Faith. Humility. Love. Vulnerability. Willingness.
These are the characteristics of those who believe.
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