FAITH CAPSULE:To one who has received and believes in Jesus, Christ’s undeniable power to deliver is available.
John 12: 37-49
King David stated, “God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God. Also to You, O Lord belongs mercy; for You render to each one according to his work.” (Psalm 62:11-12) The point here is that David is talking with a strong conviction; he was talking in certainty with regard to the power and the mercy of God.
Power belongs to God because He is power and also His name is power. The Bible cannot emphasize enough the power of God when it stated, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10) The covenant-keeping God whose name never fails will answer the righteous who know to run to His name and not any other name or man. The Bible makes us realize that Jesus is our righteousness, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”(2 Corinthians 5:21) Without doubt, by virtue of the words of this verse, to one who has received and believes in Jesus, Christ’s undeniable power to deliver is available. However, knowing about Jesus as our righteousness is not enough to grant access to the power in His name. Being awake and alive by living a righteous life is a must. This is clear in the word of God, “Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God.” (1 Corinthians 15:34) All who have received and believe in Jesus are awake and alive in Him. It can be agreed that not all who receive actually believe in Him. The word states, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12) If you have received Him, do you believe in Him? The verse points out that it is possible to receive Him and not believe in Jesus our righteousness in God. Jesus states, “For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.” (John 17:8) Receiving and believing is what makes one a believer. The word states, “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.” (John 12:42) Among the Pharisees are examples of receiving (accepting) Jesus and not believing Him. Having received and believed in the name of God, we now have undeniable access to the stronger tower.
Prayer for today:Ask for the grace to be living fully by the word of God.