" What Does It Mean to ' Believe ' " ?

Romans 10:8-17  "But what saith it ? The WORD is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the WORD of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD JESUS, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believes on HIM shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same LORD over all is rich unto all that call upon HIM. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved. How then shall they call on HIM in WHOM they have not believed ? and how shall they believe in HIM of WHOM they have not heard ? and how shall they hear without a preacher ? And how shall they preach, except they be sent ? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things ! But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Esaias said, LORD, who hath believed our report ? So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of GOD."

     John Paton served the LORD for thirty years seeking to reach South Sea cannibals with the good news of CHRIST. One of his tasks was to translate the Bible into their language.Among his greatest difficulties was trying to find the equivalent for the word faith. His discovery of the right term is fascinating: "One day I was in the mission house anxiously pondering. I sat on an ordinary kitchen chair, my feet resting on the floor. An intelligent native woman entered the room, and the thought flashed through my mind to ask the all-absorbing question once again, in a new light. Was I not resting on the chair ? Would that attitude lend itself to the discovery ? I said, ' What am I doing now? ' Koikai ana, Misi. [You're sitting down, Missi.] '  Then I drew up my feet and placed them on the rung of the chair. Leaning back in an attitude of repose, I asked, 'What am I doing now ? '  ' Fakarongrongo, misi. [You are leaning wholly, Missi. You have lifted yourself from every other support.] '  ' That's it ! ' I shouted exultantly. A sense of holy joy awed me as I realized that my prayer had been answered. To lean on JESUS wholly and only is surely the true meaning of saving faith. And now ' Fakarongrongo JESU ea anea mouri [leaning on JESUS unto eternal life] ' is the happy experience of all who cast themselves unreservedly on the SAVIOR of the world for Salvation. "

     May we lean fully upon HIM, resting all of our weight on the person [WHO HE is] and work [what HE has done] and WORD [what HE has said] of JESUS CHRIST. HE will save to the uttermost all those who cast themselves upon HIM and upon HIM alone ! " He that believes on ME hath everlasting life " (John 6:47). GWZ
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission.   www.feasite.org