How can we actively "believe in the One He has sent" daily? Setting the Scene in John 6:29 “Jesus replied, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.’ ” (John 6:29) Crowds in Capernaum had seen the multiplication of bread and wanted more signs. Jesus redirected them from physical bread to Himself, the true Bread of life. He called belief a “work”—not human effort earning merit, but the continual act of resting, trusting, and relying on Him. What Active Belief Means • Trusting Jesus as the sole source of life and salvation (John 3:16) • Receiving His words as fully authoritative and true (2 Timothy 3:16) • Yielding daily decisions to His lordship (Galatians 2:20) • Expecting His power to sustain and transform (Philippians 4:13) Belief is not passive assent; it is an ongoing, life-shaping dependence that shows itself in obedience (James 2:17). Practical Ways to Believe Daily • Scripture Intake – Read, hear, or recite the Word; faith is fed by hearing Christ’s message (Romans 10:17). – Memorize key verses; “I have hidden Your word in my heart” (Psalm 119:11). • Conversational Prayer – Start the morning acknowledging His presence. – Throughout the day, turn worries into petitions (Philippians 4:6-7). • Moment-by-Moment Obedience – Ask, “What does His Word already say about this choice?” then do it. • Confession and Quick Repentance – Keep short accounts; sin dulls assurance, but confession restores fellowship (1 John 1:9). • Gospel-Shaped Relationships – Forgive as you’ve been forgiven (Ephesians 4:32). – Serve others, knowing good works were “prepared in advance as our way of life” (Ephesians 2:10). • Verbal Witness – Speak of Christ when opportunity opens; believing hearts naturally overflow (Acts 4:20). • Gratitude and Praise – Thank Him for specific provisions; gratitude reinforces trust (Colossians 2:6-7). Barriers and Biblical Remedies • Distraction → Fix eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2). • Doubt → Recall His past faithfulness; faith rests on evidence of His unchanging character (Psalm 77:11-12). • Self-Reliance → Remember, “apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). • Hidden Sin → Bring darkness to light; cleansing restores confident belief (Psalm 32:5). Encouragement from Other Scriptures • “Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) • “Whoever has the Son has life.” (1 John 5:12) • “Continue to walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith.” (Colossians 2:6-7) A Simple Plan for Today 1. Morning: Read John 6:29 aloud. Tell Jesus you rely on Him for every task. 2. Midday: Pause for two minutes; thank Him for something specific and entrust the rest of your schedule to Him. 3. Evening: Review the day. Note where faith was strong, where it wavered, and praise Him for sustaining grace. Actively believing in the One the Father sent is the joyful, ongoing “work” God desires—a work He Himself empowers as we abide in His Son. |
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