Psalms 116:10 is a powerful proclamation. A true believer in Christ knows the power of his beliefs and knows that the truth needs to be spread by those not afraid to proclaim, “I believed, therefore I will speak.” How many of us today can make this claim? How many of us have the courage to Be Bold in our beliefs, and bold enough to be outspoken? Bold enough to not be afraid of what someone might think or do, when we bring up the name of Jesus Christ in their presence?
2 Corinthians 4:13-15, the Apostle Paul writes,
“13It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”
Paul gives us the reason behind his courage. God raised Jesus from the dead, and Paul knows that he too will someday be raised and will be presented in Heaven, with Jesus. Paul’s courage comes from his faith and his beliefs. Paul is telling the Corinthians that speaking out about Jesus is to their benefit, because when the grace of God reaches more people, it causes thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Think of it as a circle of faith. It begins with God giving us his promise, sealing it with the death of his son, so that we may believe and spread the word of his promise, so that others may also have faith, and God can be more glorified.
We grow as seedlings
We are the produce of God’s Garden. God provides us the nutrients we need to live and grow. He gives us his living water, the bread of his flesh, and the life of his blood. We grow, and as our faith grows with us, we must flower and produce seeds. Our seeds are our words and our prophesy to others, so that they too may take root and grow. As the garden of God grows and spreads, God reaps the produce of the garden, in the beauty and glory that we provide him.
1 Corinthians 3:6-9
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
Paul speaks of us as part of God’s farm, and of God as our giver of life. For us to receive our reward, we must do our part in the garden, which is to grow and spread his words. Our labor will determine our reward.
How strong is your faith? Are you spreading seeds of that faith?