“Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'” — John 6:29
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No matter how much success we achieve, we must remember God is more concerned with who we are becoming than what we are accomplishing. The only way to become the person God desires is to put in the work needed — on His terms.
You can’t work your way to Heaven; it is a matter of faith. John 6:28-29 says, “Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.’”
To “believe in the one he has sent” is God’s greatest desire for you (1 Timothy 2:3-4). But becoming all the Lord has called you to be takes serious focus, time and effort. It doesn’t happen just because you want it to, or you know it should. It has to be a committed, intentional part of your daily life. “[T]rain yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:7b–8).
Are you putting in the work? The Lord will change you according to your desire to be changed. If you really, really want to be changed, gradually you will as you put in the work of knowing and living out God’s Word. But if you only kind of want to be changed, you kind of won’t change.
— Jerry Birch, Cleveland Cavaliers chaplain
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