Relief or Belief
He who comes to God, must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those that seek Him.
There is a hidden inference in this passage that projects a profound truth. The inference is that belief determines pursuit. It is absolutely true that whatever we believe in we pursue. We go to restaurants we believe in. We purchase items we believe in. We seek out relationships with people we believe in.
God loves to be believed. It is His greatest pleasure.
The word “belief” is defined as; to be assured, to have confidence in, to show trust in one another, to have conviction, or to be persuaded. God is faithful and can be trusted to lead us to, and through every circumstance. Let’s not be like the children of Israel who found themselves unable to trust God for their needs.
The children of Israel constantly desired relief, and God wanted them to believe. The wilderness struggles were designed to cause them to believe God to meet their needs. Rather than believe, they chose to be relieved from their circumstances.
Beliefs are developed from 4 sources:
1. Environments
Some were raised in bad environments. These environments cause us to develop beliefs that are contrary to God’s ways. Sometimes we must unlearn before we can learn.
2. Relationships
The people we grew up with and the people we hang out with form our belief systems. Choose wise friends. Align yourself with people who match your destiny, not your history.
3. Experiences
Belief creates experiences. When you believe God to help you handle every situation, that determines how you handle your experiences.
4. Knowledge
My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge…Hosea 4:6
What we do not know, can destroy us. Let’s remember, the truth you believe sets you free. Let’s make sure we are trusting and believing in our heavenly Father to get us through every difficult situation.
It is the difference in relief or belief!
Pastor Tom
