27 May, Tuesday — Believe to be saved

Tuesday of 7^th Week of Easter

Acts 16:22-34
Jn 6:5-11

“Become a believer in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, and your household too.”

When I read the above quote, it made me wonder about several points. What does it mean to become a believer in the Lord Jesus? If I believe, I will be saved, but how is my household saved too?

According to the Cambridge dictionary, a believer is a person who has a religious belief or who strongly believes that something is right or good. I am not sure if that is sufficient in terms of an explanation. Simply believing something is good or bad, without any substantiation, leaves a lot of room for interpretation and error. In the Christian sense, a believer is one who faithfully trusts in Jesus Christ, one who has received the truth that Jesus is the Son of God into their hearts, and repented of their sins, received baptism and resulting in a new creation.

However, becoming a believer is more than just a one-time event. It starts with baptism, but does not just end there. Becoming a believer is a journey, which is different for everyone. Some are long and winding roads, some are direct routes, and still some take detours before turning back. There is not one path to becoming a believer; but only one end goal, one destination if you will. 

Like any journey we decide to make, there are preparations to be made. Like packing for a trip, there are things we decide whether to take with us or to leave behind. Becoming a believer in the Lord Jesus, requires us to leave behind our sins and attachments that deter us from making it to the final destination; and it requires us to pick up virtues and habits that help us along the way. 

Then I was wondering about how our household will be saved if we become believers. Don’t they have to become believers in their own right? Then it dawned on me. If you have ever taken a family trip to a foreign place where you have never been, some of the family members may be excited, while others are reluctant or even skeptical about the whole thing. By our attitudes, words and actions, enthusiasm could spread like wildfire. Before you know it, the whole family eagerly anticipates the excitement of entering into a brand-new world, and brand-new experiences. This is much like you becoming a believer, the fire that burns within you, changes your attitude, your words, and actions.  Family and friends, seeing this change, may start becoming curious and want to find out more about the cause of this change. When they do, they may be on their path to becoming a believer and thus being saved. How wonderful is that!

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as a fellow sojourner, may we encourage each other in this journey and spread the excitement to our family and friends, so that many more can become believers and be saved.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Winnie Kung)

Prayer: My Most Loving Lord, You alone are the path that leads to eternal life. We pray that as we are saved by becoming true believers, that we may invite others to come along with us on this journey so that they may be saved as well by Your infinite love and mercy.

Thanksgiving: Most Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us and calling us by name; thank you for inviting us to be part of Your family, to save us from eternal damnation and separation from You and Your most Holy Presence.