“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (NIV) 

Galatians 2:20

We believe faith in Jesus has to be personal. Our families, friends, and the church can influence us to follow Jesus, but at some point, you must know, this is my choice. I believe in God, Jesus loves me, I love Jesus, and I choose to follow him. At our young adult Growth Group, one person summed up why personal faith matters, “it is like stepping on the gas pedal, but the motor isn’t switched on”. What a great analogy! Faith in Jesus doesn’t make a deep difference in your life until you turn the key. That decision starts the engine of faith and life with Jesus. 

When people are baptised, they declare publicly they are turning the key of faith. Jesus has done so much for them already. He has died in their place, dealt with their sin, opened the way of forgiveness and to be made right with God. God raised Jesus to life, defeated evil powers and death itself, bringing true life for now and eternity. There is so much promise and power available in Jesus.  

To unleash this does not require your heroic acts of sacrifice. It does not require you to be powerful or impressive. It requires faith. Not even extraordinary faith. It can be the smallest spark of fragile faith. Then, this tentative gift of trust in God, offered in humility, is returned beyond measure. All that Jesus is, all he has won, is now ours. We are surrounded by love from the one who “loved me and gave himself for me.” Our life is no longer our own. This is no loss, for in Jesus we have been taken from dust to glory. For our remaining days, and on into eternity, we will never exhaust the delightful depths of the riches of God’s grace and purposes for us. 

One decision can unleash an abundance of life in Jesus, as we have never imagined. Why would you not turn that key? 

Enjoy, 

Jason 

Photo by Jozsef Hocza on Unsplash