Devotion for December 18, 2023

“If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.” (1 Corinthians 13:7, TLB)

Jesus believes in you. There is plenty of proof in the Bible! Take a look at these verses:

“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20, NIV).

“Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23, NIV).

“If you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more” (Matthew 21:21, TLB).

Jesus believes you can do all these things because he knows that, when you place your trust in him, his Spirit lives inside you. He also wants you to help others believe this about themselves. The apostle Paul offered this encouragement: “I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you” (Romans 1:12, NCV).

Each day you encounter people with low self-esteem. Everybody has insecurities. And many people are repeatedly playing a tape in their mind of when someone said to them long ago that they wouldn’t amount to anything.

How can people reverse a curse others have tried to place on them? You can help them start believing what Jesus says about them instead of believing what other people say.

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:7, “If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him” (TLB).

That’s what God wants you to do. He wants you to show faith in others so they can believe what God says about them.

One of the best ways we do this in the church is by being part of a small group. When you have a really tough week and you’re doubting and down and discouraged, you need a group of trusted people who will believe in you and for you. And you can do the same for them. Followers of Jesus don’t just believe in Christ. We also believe in each other.

Your faith can help grow the faith of others as you believe in them like Jesus believes in you.

Prayer

Lord, strengthen my faith with Your love and grace, and let me do the same for those around me. Increase our faith in Your promises so that we may bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Stay encouraged!

Pastor Mike

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