Out Of The Pit - Part 6

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God is love. (1 John 4:16)

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear. (1John 4:18)

It is natural to believe in (trust) someone you have come to know and love wholeheartedly. Perhaps for me God is focusing on love vs. belief for this reason. Focusing on belief can quickly become a cerebral activity that is disengaged from the heart.

Jesus didn't push his disciples to immediately believe in him. They walked with him, spent time getting to know him, and wrestled with their doubts. After all, he first said to them, "follow me" not "believe in me". It was only later that he asked, "who do you say that I am?"

When Jesus came to Peter after Peter had denied knowing Jesus, he didn't ask Peter, "do you believe in me?" No, he asked him, "do you love me?"

At its core, Christianity is not believing a set of propositional truth claims. It is getting to know Jesus; learning to love him wholeheartedly and to trust him completely. Who he is. What he has done. What he promises.

And this is the way to have eternal life--to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. (John 17:3)

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