This is part 2 of a devotional post I did. To read part 1, click HERE
The second condition Jesus gave in John 6:35 is:
“….and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.“
For us as SDA Christian teens, what does that mean? What does it mean to “believe?” Well, in the original Greek, the word “believe” comes from the Greek word pisteuō (πιστεύω). This word has two interesting definitions. The first definition is:
“Mere acknowledgment of some fact or event: intellectual faith”
Now, this definition of believe is something most of us as SDA Christian teens have down pat. I mean, we all have an INTELLECTUAL belief in the Bible as God’s word. We know that God is up there in Heaven; we know that Jesus came down to die for us; we know about the Sabbath; we know about the state of the dead…we know, know, KNOW. Every little Bible memory verse we heard in church, Sabbath School; on Audioverse, 3ABN, whatever–we KNOW. Intellectual faith is something we truly have rooted in our souls. But the second definition of believe is something we struggle with; the second definition of the word “believe” from the original Greek is:
“To trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving faith”
Trusting God is really a struggle. It’s a struggle for me as well. Yet, Christ said that when we believe in Him–not just intellectually, but with heart-felt trust–we’ll “never thirst.”
Could this struggle to trust God be the reason why we’re thirsty? Obviously not in a physical way; but could our seemingly unquenchable spiritual, emotional, social, and psychological thirsts be connected to a faltering trust in God?
Psalms 36:7-9 gives us a beautiful image of trusting God, and it connects well with the verse we’re studying–
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,
And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.
The one key thing I noticed is that David writes that because of God’s lovingkindness, “the children of men put their trust under the shadow of [God’s] wings.” In fact, that word “therefore” means “for that reason.” So, for the reason of God’s lovingkindness, people place trust under the shadow of His wings. Could the reason why we as SDA teens struggle with having full, pure trust in God is because we’ve NEVER had a DEEP, PERSONAL EXPERIENCE with God’s lovingkindness in our individual lives?
I understand if all these questions seem overwhelmingly thought-provoking. But let me ask you one final question (and I promise it won’t be really deep). Would you like to truly experience God’s lovingkindness in your personal life so you can truly trust Him? Then just pray:
I’d like to conclude this post with two things. The first thing is a verse that’s also in Psalms that ties in well to what we had just studied. I hope and pray that you’ll find it a beautiful encouragement to meditate on along with the above prayer:
I spread out my hands to You;
My soul longs for You like a thirsty land.
Answer me speedily, O Lord;
My spirit fails!
Do not hide Your face from me,
Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You. (Psalms 143:6-8)
Lastly, the second thing is a sermon I heard on Audioverse that I hope and pray will encourage you to put full trust in God alone. The sermon is down below:
Amen! Marantha!