Love believes all things.
1 Corinthians 13:7
There comes a time in our Christian faith that the question is no longer what you believe, but who you believe. As we press on to understand the depth and breadth of God’s love in these verses, we come to the bedrock of our faith. Do we believe? Do we believe God? Not, do we believe in him. But do we believe him to be credible, reliable, and faithful to do what He says, to follow through with what He has promised. Our faith teeters here frequently. Or at least mine does. The minute we waver and wobble into the territory of “I don’t know” or “I’m not so sure,” the rest of the doctrines we carry around in our hip pocket fall away, including love. How shall we love God? How shall we love another? The answers to those questions hinge upon believing God is who He says He is and can do what He says He will do. I can’t love another, or myself, or God without believing God, who is love, who ordained love.
How do we know He is who He says He is? In my experience, there are two questions to consider. Has God made himself known? Do his actions and his words line up – is He a “person” of his word – is he credible? This examination is crucial, and its outcome a pivotal factor in everything we do, say or become.
The Scriptures teach us that God has made himself known universally in the world by his creation (Romans 1:20, Hebrews 11:3). The created order reveals the character and nature of God. It can’t help itself. It reflects God in his many facets including his order, beauty, power, faithfulness, provision, salvation… and yes… his love (just to name a few of his characteristics). Think of a sunrise. Think of a cascading waterfall. Think of the ocean surf, or a hummingbird’s wing, or the pattern of cells on the back of your hand. God reflects facets of himself through everything he has made.
God has also made himself known through his inspired word – the oral, written, prophetic, sometimes historical, sometimes poetic, sometimes miraculous and mysterious account of God’s interaction with his people from the beginning of time. By his own word, he declares that it reflects his character. Every story, every poem, every letter, every prophecy, every vision declares truth about God. We can know the heart and mind of God by reading his word.
Finally, perhaps most importantly, God revealed himself to the world – both in ancient Palestine and Judea, and to every generation after, through his Son Jesus Christ. God manifested himself in time and space so that we could know how he thinks, feels and works in our world, in our lives. Jesus Christ is still present in the world, after his death and resurrection, by the indwelling of the his Spirit – the Holy Spirit -who lives in each believer. We know God because we know his presence to be active in us. We know. When the Spirit is active, we know it. (1 John 3:24)
As Christians, we conclude that God makes himself known in at least these three ways. He has not kept himself apart or separate from us. He has shown himself in every possible way to those who want to find him.
So, we ask the second question. Does what we see in his created order line up with his Word? In turn, does his Word line up with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus? This journey of examination and discovery has been the delight of my life. Like hunting for breadcrumbs in a forest only to stumble upon a sumptuous feast in a sunlit glade, we are actually led by the omnipotent and beneficent hand of God. He faithfully and painstakingly shows us how the pieces come together. All the ways God has been revealing himself to us are put together to form a whole. God is the One Truth in the universe that makes all things true, and right, and good. The way we experience God in creation – his splendor, his glory, his beauty and holiness, his order, provision, goodness and power – are also experienced in our lives as we read, meditate and apply his word to our lives. How much more so when Jesus becomes the Word in our lives! His mercy and forgiveness, evident in Scripture, are now experienced in real time. His generosity and love are poured out to us and poured out of us. They are not just words. They become a reality in our lives. We experience the truth of what God said in his Word, especially his Son Jesus Christ.
How do we know? Again, we must ask the questions. Has God been merciful to me, as He said? Has God shown love to me, as He said? Has He provided for me according to my needs? Has He been faithful to me, never leaving or forsaking me? Has He shown me salvation, as He promised everywhere in his Word? Has He brought dignity and honor to me, despite outward circumstances? Has He brought new life to me, out of the pit of death and despair? These are just some of the promises God makes to his people. In my experience, the answer to every question has been a resounding “Yes”. Do I believe that God will do what He says? My answer (I cannot answer for you) is: He has never failed me. Never. Not once. What He says and what He does are perfectly in sync.
Therefore, I must believe God in all things, in every situation, in every circumstance, in all people. Whatever “things” we face, we can trust God to be God, whom we know to be good, merciful, kind, patient, loving, generous, powerful, bestowing favor upon those He loves. Despite what our current environment testifies, it is only temporary compared to the faithful Presence of God who is always working all things for good for his children (Romans 8:28). As Paul says, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen.” (2 Corinthians 4:17). I must also believe that God will be perfectly God for those I love also. He will do exactly as He has said, and has always done, for those I love.
So, what is my role then, in loving others by believing God in all things? While each of us are responsible for our own conscious consent to God, I can shine the light of faith for others. I can hold up the light so they can see the next step. And in that step, I believe God will make himself known to them. One more step, one more morsel in the dark forest, one step closer to the feast He always unfolds for hungry hearts. You might call this intercession. My faith in God (however wobbly and wavy sometimes) is enough to stand in the place, where He places us. We do that out of love for each other. When another is too sick, too weak, too wounded, too tired to do it on their own, our faith can be the bedrock for another, until they find their footing. We are called to share the gift of faith, which was given to us too. When we believe God together with someone, on behalf of someone, we are believing the very best for their lives. This is typically what we do for those we love, is it not? This is the very best way to go through life together. This is a new way to love. Let us love one another by believing God in all things.
Lord Jesus,
I believe you are alive and well in me.
I know you. I can feel your Spirit alive in me.
Therefore, I believe you conquered death… on the cross.
I believe you have power in both the spiritual and physical worlds.
I believe you love me…
beyond my understanding.
Everything the Bible teaches about you I have found to be true.
I have more evidence of your goodness to me,
than I do about most things.
I choose to believe you are good and will do good in my life and in those I love.
I believe a life in You leads to blessing,
however you choose to bestow it.
Maybe I misunderstand the idea of “blessing” and think in the ways of the world.
But I know you bless me with your Presence,
Your love, Your provision, Your Peace.
I believe it because I have experienced it.
I believe you.
In your name I pray. Amen.
This is an excerpt from my new Bible Study called LOVE IS. If you would like to learn more, or participate independently online, click here: https://elizabethheadblack.com/love-is-study/.