Living in the Spirit

June 3, 2021

Scripture Reading:
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—‘I believed, and so I spoke’—we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. –2 Corinthians 4:13-15

The word “believe” bothers me. In religious circles, it is associated with faith. However, “believe” has gained a quality of what one thinks is the truth until it is proven not to be. Our ancestors believed the world was flat until they discovered it was not. Explorers sailed out to sea on faith that the unknown was worth knowing. Abram, identified as an early monotheist, left the world with which he was well acquainted in search of what he did not know. Hebrews 11 describes the history of such faith among God’s followers.

The following is an excerpt from Strong’s Concordance regarding the word believe (my emphasis added):

pisteúō (from 4102 /pístis, “faith,” derived from 3982 /peíthō, “persuade, be persuaded”) – believe (affirm, have confidence); used of persuading oneself (= human believing) and with the sacred significance of being persuaded by the Lord (= faith-believing). Only the context indicates whether 4100 /pisteúō (“believe”) is self-serving (without sacred meaning), or the believing that leads to/proceeds from God’s inbirthing of faith*.

Paul’s letter tells us that our belief must be wrapped in the knowledge provided by the spirit of faith. Therefore, we, too, must carefully seek the Lord’s guidance based on God’s inbirthing of faith and not as a way of serving ourselves. A local church many years ago posted this on its marque: If you do not live it, you do not believe it. That advice has served me well. However, that advice must be coupled with discernment regarding whether we believe something because it serves us well or is vital to God’s plan.

Prayer: Lord, flood our world with your inbirthing of faith. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/4100.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.