Today's readings are Proverbs 10.1-23 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+10.1-23 ), John 14.1-17 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+14.1-17 ), and Proverbs 11.12-28 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Prov.+11.1-12.28 ).
What is the way to heaven? How do we reach that secure eternal home? What must we do to be saved? I observe today that Jesus' statements in John 14.1-7 run counter to my expectations and typical desires. I expect they ran counter to the expectations of his disciples with him as well. "Jesus, how do we know God?" "You know me, don't you?" Maybe we don't know Jesus very well. While Jesus goes ahead and does all that is needed to bring us into eternal safety and reconciliation with God, we want to know what we need to do. While we sing "Jesus paid it all" we think about what we can do to keep him from bearing the responsibility for our salvation. When we are told to believe the Gospel, we want to know how we can show that belief and whether we are believing well enough. Maybe we don't know Jesus very well at all.
Believe that the Lord has taken our sin. Believe that the Lord has conquered sin, death, and hell on our behalf. Believe that the Lord has redeemed a people for himself. Believe that he is preparing a heavenly home for his people, so he may be the firstborn among many brothers. Believe that he will accomplish all he has said. Salvation is of the Lord, not of us. Believe it. Live in light of that belief - confidently knowing that Jesus is indeed the author and finisher of our faith. Believe that when we fail to live like believers, Jesus is there to forgive and restore us. Just believe. That's all. The rest will work itself out.
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