www.bible.com/1713/jhn.14.1.csb
You are familiar with the saying, “easier said than done.” That applies to a lot of things, like parenting, getting a job, or finishing your degree. In fact, I think it applies to just about anything. So too it applies to our walk with Jesus. This verse really encapsulates what it is to be a Christian. It is far easier to say “I believe in Jesus” than it is to live that way. Easier to say “Jesus is Lord” than to actually let Him be Lord of your whole life.
Now there are tough words to say in life, like “Will you marry me?” or “It’s cancer.” You don’t say or repeat those words often. They are so hard because of the implications behind them. It used to be the same was felt about “I believe that Jesus is the Son of the Living God.” It was a once in a lifetime statement of faith preceding baptism and pointed out to the world that you were walking the path of faith. But for the sake of making converts, the bar has dropped to mere assent of Faith. “I agree with Jesus!” Baptism is not longer once in a lifetime, but once as often as you come to a fresh understanding of your faith and brokenness. (No, I don’t agree with re-baptism, but I can’t deny someone who feels a real need to do so.)
Living out your faith ought to be loved with the full implication of the words which precede it. That said, I don’t know of many who actually succeed, including this author. I think it becomes a matter of maturity the closer we get to that ideal, and is not easily apprehended by the novice. We find from time to time that we didn’t understand the commitment we made when we first come to Christ. That’s called maturing. It doesn’t need rebaptism so much as fresh commitment to live up to this new understanding. Willingness to live out our faith requires time and energy. We ought to find ourselves even more committed and more willing to pray and read and fellowship than we did before. We ought to see more opportunities for sharing our faith and making an impact for the kingdom. Why? Because Jesus is Lord. He is Lord of all things, not just just those we surrender to Him.
Following Jesus is easier said than done, but nothing worth doing is easy. And this is certainly is worth doing.
God bless!
Meritt Musings 