Page 122 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 23

From “believing in God” to “believing God” But the person concerned should make his request
Going deeper and deeper into trus�ng God, feeling in an a�tude of trust and not in an a�tude of
at home there, also means that many small steps of doubt; for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea
conversion follow if we want to overcome the that is whipped up by the wind and blown here and
mistrust that the serpent sowed in the hearts of the there. Such a person should not think that he will
first people. Many small steps of conversion not receive anything from the Lord.
only open the doors of our lives to the will of God, James 1:6-7
but also to the trust that this will is good and true. And because of their unbelief, he (Jesus) performed
Trus�ng God means believing him and not just be- only a few miracles there (in his hometown).
lieving in him. Ma�hew 13:58
Many small steps of conversion not only open the “If it is possible for you, you say?” replied Jesus. “All
doors of our lives to the will of God, but also to trust things are possible to him who believes.”
that this will is good and true. Mark 9:23 All these texts prove that whether I be-
But what does it mean to “believe”? “Now faith is lieve God specifically or not is not insignificant. This
the firm assurance of things hoped for and not not only influences us and our experience and be-
doub�ng things that are seen” (Hebrews 11:1). havior, but also God.
Everything that we do not see in our reality, but are Once we have gone from unbelief to faith, part of
convinced of, i.e. where we do not doubt that it this first conversion is to ask ourselves whether we
exists, we believe. can trust God and his word in our lives so that we
We do not see most things in our lives, we believe no longer doubt. (Always assuming that we inter-
them. We believe everything that is not given to us pret and understand his word correctly).
directly through our senses, including memories of This is not easy, but it keeps our first conversion
course, but also current certain�es, that the car is ac�ve for life: Can I trust God?
s�ll where you put it, that the euro is at this mo- Can I trust that
ment the currency in our country (even if you don't ... the one who gives will receive in return?
see anyone paying with it), that your television will ... marital fidelity is good and beau�ful?
come on when you switch it on ... Being able to be- ... I will one day live eternally redeemed?
lieve is a basic ability of every human being. ... God answers my prayers?
If you have ever experienced your car being stolen, ... I will make a good impression at a job interview
your television not working or someone paying today because He is with me?
with old Deutschmarks (which is s�ll possible in
some department stores), then your faith may have A seminar experience
been weakened. The topic of faith as a basic human phenomenon
In areas where you have had no experience, your was for years one of my regular lectures. A�er an
faith has no founda�on. If a person says to you: introduc�on to the topic, I used to say to the par�-
“The chef in this restaurant cooks excellent food”, cipants: "I've put a bar of chocolate over in the next
the ques�on of whether you believe it or whether room. Whoever takes it now owns it." Of course,
you are unsure depends on how trustworthy the they understood what I was ge�ng at: did they
person is (in rela�on to this informa�on). If you try trust me that there really was a bar of chocolate
the restaurant yourself, you can probably find out if there that they couldn't see?
the statement is true, but maybe the good chef is Then the first one got up and le� the room. I asked
having his day off? You s�ll can't be completely the others who believed that there was a bar of
sure. chocolate there and who didn't. Some doubted,
I believe where I no longer doubt, even though I others believed. Some doubted, others believed.
cannot see. Faith has a transcendent effect, it Then the person with the chocolate in their hand
“grasps God's hand”. Here are a few examples from came back and there was a roar of applause.
the Bible: Ten minutes later, I claimed: “I put two bars of cho-
Jesus then turned to the centurion and said: "You colate on the cellar stairs, who ...” Now two or three
can go home. What you have believed shall be of them stood up, one of them finally went off ...
done." And at the very moment the servant was and came back successfully. Some confirmed that
healed." they s�ll had doubts.
Ma�hew 8:13
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