What Do We Have to Do?

John 6:28-29 The people asked Jesus, "What does God want us to do?" Jesus answered, "The work God wants you to do is this: to believe in the one he sent.

In my quarter of a century walking with Jesus, I’ve listened to thousands of sermons, and preached thousands more. That’s a lot of stuff … so it’s easy to get the impression that following Jesus is a complex business. Not so.

Have you ever wondered to yourself, “Well, if I’m going to be a Christian, if I’m going to follow this Jesus, what do I have to do? What are the rules? What are the do’s and don’ts?”

Now, they’re not unreasonable questions to ask, because you want to honour God. And, of course, you wouldn’t be the first person to ask those questions. In fact, some people asked Jesus the very same thing:

John 6:28-29 The people asked Jesus, “What does God want us to do?” Jesus answered, “The work God wants you to do is this: to believe in the one he sent.

Sometimes I think what we’re looking for is a formula, a checklist. Just give me the “to-do” list. Give it to me simple, give it to me straight, do this and don’t do that.

But you see, that’s not it. Because doing stuff doesn’t work. Hey, anybody who drives a car, pretty much will break the road rules every time they hop behind the steering wheel. Truth is, we’re not all that good at following rules. In fact, the whole of the Old Testament screams at you, “Following rules will never work.”

God knows that, which is why He just wants us to believe in His Son, Jesus. Not just with your head, not even just with your heart, but with your life. And when you do that, when you put your lives in His hands, all the other doing, just becomes obvious after that.

What does God want you to do? Trust in Jesus. It’s as simple as that.

And that’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.

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