A Wake-up Call to Live What I Believe

I couldn’t understand the words, probably spoken in Creole, but they were growing increasingly louder and had the harshness and brashness of curses.  Just as Mariama and I came to a part in the road that narrowed to about two feet wide, three-foot-tall grass to our left and sloppy mud puddles to our right, the speaker of the brash words came upon us and passed us quickly. Still spewing the seemingly foul language, he growled an ugly “Pastor Chris” right in the middle of it just as he brushed my left shoulder and quickly pushed past us.

My heartbeat and adrenaline surged, and I strengthened my grip on Mariama’s hand and sped up my pace toward the compound, only about 50 yards away. “He’s crazy!” Mariama said. All I wanted to do was get far away from him, the man I’d seen all week storming around the village mumbling to himself.

Later, in my Bible reading for the day I read about Jesus casting out the evil spirit in a man. Because I follow the Chronological Bible to read the Bible in a year, it lists a specific story back-to-back if it is told in more than one book of the Bible. So I read the story from Mark 1, Luke 4, and Matthew 8. “That evening after sun set the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.” Mark 1:32-34

A verse came to mind: “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” John 14:12 (New Living Translation, 2007).  I pondered on the scriptures and what had happened just an hour before. Why had fear been the overriding emotion of that “crazy man” incident? Why did I not rebuke the curse on my husband in Jesus’ Name? Why did I only fear for my own well-being and not have any compassion to help free this tormented soul? Do I really believe through Christ I can do even greater works than He did when He walked on Earth? Really…?

If I really do believe the things I say I believe, then why don’t I show it?

That day kicked off what I believe God gave me as a goal for the year: Live what I believe. Why? Donald Miller’s quote in his book Blue Like Jazz sums it up: “What I believe is not what I say I believe; what I believe is what I do.”

How does this flesh out in my day-to-day life?

• If I truly believe I can’t do my life without God’s help, I will spend time in prayer and His Word every day.
• When crisis comes, I will trust God and not worry.
• When someone wrongs me, I will forgive.
• When I’m misunderstood, I know that God knows my heart.
• When temptation knocks, I can resist and take the way of escape that God provides.
• When my role changes, I will remember that my identity is in Christ alone.
• When life gets hectic, I allow God’s deep peace to guard my heart.
• When I look in the mirror, I can thank God for how He made me.

Father, thank you for all the promises I have in you through Christ. I pray the daily circumstances of my life will reveal a deep trust in you and in your Word. May others see your faithfulness and praise your Mighty Name. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.