Believe

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:14

Dear People of St. Peters,

Grace and peace to you midway through Lent. May this day bring lightness and joy to your life. Get outside. Smell the daffodils and notice the tiny flowers peeking out of the earth. The world is glorious.

Perhaps the most often quoted verse in Scripture, John 3:14 is a powerful statement about the relationship between God the Father and God the Son. The verse also expresses God’s promise to those who believe in Jesus.

Just what does it mean to believe? In modern times, the word “belief” has been largely reduced to intellectual assent to verifiable facts. Belief in Jesus is much more than agreeing to the truth of historical events or realities of the world that can be recorded.

Believing in Jesus is an act of entrusting our lives to Jesus. It means giving our hearts to Jesus. When we believe in Jesus we strive to align each day with the values that motivated Jesus’ actions. Jesus healed the sick, returned sight to the blind, released the prisoner, welcomed the least, and challenged unjust systems. Jesus loved people and sought to bring life to all people.

Our Baptismal Covenant expresses a Jesus-centered life well. Look up the promises on page 304 of the Book of Common Prayer. (If you don’t have one at home, let me know. I’m happy to give you one to keep at home.) Commit to gathering in Jesus’ name and prayer. Ask for forgiveness. Share the good news. Respect the dignity of every person. Strive for justice and peace. This is the Jesus-centered life. Leading a life transformed by Christ is what it means to say “I believe.”

What are the ways that your life says, “I believe in Jesus?”