What do you say when someone pops the question, “Are you a believer?” I recently had this happen to me. Thank God I am confident in my relationship with Jesus today and it didn’t bother me. But if you would have asked me this a few years ago, I would have probably been thrown off or very upset.
This past week I was sharing my story at a speaking engagement. I talked a lot about my self-destructive behaviors that I struggled with for many years, even as a believer.
In the audience was someone whom I call a friend and has known me for years. After I finished speaking, she walked up to me and said, “Wow, Paula! I didn’t know you struggled with all that. I thought when I met you that you were a believer.” With a smile on my face, I kindly looked at her and said, “I am a believer, and I have been ever since I accepted Jesus into my heart at the age 21.” I followed that up with the idea that accepting Jesus in your heart it does not make all of your bad habits and problems simply go away.
You see, friends, I share this with you today because I want you to know it is a process. When we accept Jesus, it means He is there to help and guide us through all our junk and help us break free of the habits that once had us bound. The change won’t happen overnight. It’s like losing weight: you didn’t gain it overnight so you definitely aren’t going to lose it overnight.
But what we are promised as a BELEIVER is:
- Is that if WE stay connected to the true vine, Jesus, then God our Father will cut off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit. (John 15:1)
- If we remain in Jesus, He will remain in us no matter what we are going through. (John 15: 2)
- Apart from Jesus we can do nothing on our own. (John 15:3)
- Jesus promises us that His gracious favor is all we need. His power works best in our weaknesses. (2 Corinthians 12:8)
So if you accept Jesus, then you are no longer bound to the law of trying to follow rules and be good in your own strength. You are now a believer, Jesus came to set you free, and He died for your sins. So every time you feel you’ve failed, or you are bound to an addiction or self-destructive behavior, stay connected to the vine, who is Jesus, the only source that can set you free!
Are you a believer?
