“Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.’” – John 4:39-42
Individualism, unique style, creative lines. At least for me, it’s a must to qualify as one of my favorite riders. The difficulty of tricks is important, of course, but what really sets a rider apart is if they have established their own unique approach to riding. Everything from the type of tricks they’re doing, to the way they tweak a grab or press, or to the line they take. The legends aren’t copying someone else’s style: they are setting the standard for style!
Establishing our own “style” is a must when it comes to our faith, as well. We need to make sure we make our faith our own, and we’re not just copying what others are doing. Being a part of an SFC chapter is awesome, having a family of believers is a huge blessing, and being connected to a church group is a must, but those people can’t decide for us if we are going to put our faith, hope, and trust in God. We have to choose for ourselves that Jesus is our Saviour and pursue him as Lord.
Today, be an individual and decide for yourself that Jesus is Lord!
In the book of John, the Samaritans got to hear an amazing testimony about Jesus from the Samaritan woman. Excitement about Jesus was high; some even started to believe in Him. But ultimately, the Samaritans ended up inviting Jesus to stay with them so that they could experience Him first-hand. After spending time directly with Jesus, they said to the Samaritan woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”
Today, be an individual and decide for yourself that Jesus is Lord! Definitely listen to others, talk with others, learn from others, serve with others (as that is all 100% vital), but make sure your faith is truly yours. If you’re not sure what this looks like in real life, here are some quick ideas:
- Spend time alone and pray to Jesus. Invite him to “stay with you.”
- Open up the Bible and read it. The book of John is a great place to start if you’re wondering where.
- Commit to being a part of a church and, possibly, an SFC group or small group. Do it out of your own desire to go!
- Talk about your faith. Talk through stuff with other believers. Also, don’t be ashamed of your faith around those that don’t believe.
- Serve others as Jesus did. Love others and give hope to others through both your words and with your actions.
Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Seek God with all of your heart and you will find Him!
Challenge
Do you truly believe, for yourself, that Jesus is your Saviour and Lord?
In what ways can you better invite Jesus to “stay with you?”
What are three practical ways that you can better make your faith your own?
By Marc Breglio | Scarborough, Maine