Do You Believe?
February 13, 2016
Titus 2:11-12 “ For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness
and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
The movie, Do you Believe, is about 12 people who are confronted with the cross of Jesus Christ. The story begins with an old street preacher asking a young man if he believes in the cross of Jesus Christ. The young man, the pastor of a local church, says, “I’m a pastor.” The street preacher responds, “That isn’t what I asked. I asked, ‘Do you believe in the cross of Jesus Christ?’” And with passion, the street preacher continues, ‘The cross is where Jesus loved you. The cross is where Jesus shed His blood for you and died. The cross is where Jesus forgave your sins and gave you His life – new life. And if you REALLY BELIEVE in the cross of Jesus Christ – the cross is where Jesus NOW DEMANDS something out of you.’ With increasing fervor the old man shouts, ‘You can’t believe in the cross without a response! Now, DO YOU BELIEVE in the cross of Jesus Christ?!’” We should all be troubled by this question. Is God Ok with our lives? We are Christians. We read the Bible – go to church. Yet, are our lives living up to the demands of the cross of Christ? Jesus gave EVERYTHING on the cross. How are we responding? Is Jesus demanding MORE of our lives, but we have gotten comfortable in our ‘enough-ness?’ Like the street preacher says, “If you believe in the cross of Jesus, then know the cross of Jesus Christ demands something from you..
– Virginia Thompson
and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
The movie, Do you Believe, is about 12 people who are confronted with the cross of Jesus Christ. The story begins with an old street preacher asking a young man if he believes in the cross of Jesus Christ. The young man, the pastor of a local church, says, “I’m a pastor.” The street preacher responds, “That isn’t what I asked. I asked, ‘Do you believe in the cross of Jesus Christ?’” And with passion, the street preacher continues, ‘The cross is where Jesus loved you. The cross is where Jesus shed His blood for you and died. The cross is where Jesus forgave your sins and gave you His life – new life. And if you REALLY BELIEVE in the cross of Jesus Christ – the cross is where Jesus NOW DEMANDS something out of you.’ With increasing fervor the old man shouts, ‘You can’t believe in the cross without a response! Now, DO YOU BELIEVE in the cross of Jesus Christ?!’” We should all be troubled by this question. Is God Ok with our lives? We are Christians. We read the Bible – go to church. Yet, are our lives living up to the demands of the cross of Christ? Jesus gave EVERYTHING on the cross. How are we responding? Is Jesus demanding MORE of our lives, but we have gotten comfortable in our ‘enough-ness?’ Like the street preacher says, “If you believe in the cross of Jesus, then know the cross of Jesus Christ demands something from you..
– Virginia Thompson