In yesterday’s devotional I highlighted the exceptional courage of the first apostles. As far as we can tell, all but one of them died for their faith.

One writer has stated that God is personal, but never private.* How very true. Our faith is internal AND external. It impacts who we are on the inside but also how we live on the outside. That was certainly true for those first disciples. 

But their faith wasn’t vague or irreverent.

In James 2:19 Jesus’ half-brother says this to his readers: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” Let’s take note of a few things.

First, demons believe in God. Demons have more belief than the atheists or agnostics you know.

Second, they believe “that there is one God.” That tells us they are not polytheists; they don’t believe in many gods, but one God.

Third, they “shudder” at God. They are not flippant. They know God has authority and power over them—which is more than can be said for a lot of people.

I point these things out because we clearly want to have a faith that goes beyond that of demons!

Belief in the one, true and living God is not a vague or irreverent belief. It is trust in the Maker of heaven and earth; it is trust in Christ, our foundation, hope and salvation; it is trust in the Holy Spirit who dwells within and works through his people.

If the resurrection is true, it changes things—not just in terms of how many warm-and-cozy-feelings we may have—but practically and powerfully in our daily lives. To be a disciple of Jesus is to be an apprentice of Jesus. It is to learn from him and imitate him.

Every once in a while we need to examine our faith—and possibly recalibrate. 

Christ is risen. Darkness died. We are his people of hope—not just theoretically, but practically. God is personal, but never private.

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Notes and extra content:

–“Did the resurrection really happen? (Part 2) Explaining and defending our foundational belief.” April 15, 2024. Click here.

–*This is a quote by Jim Wallis, though I do not have access to the original source.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.