It should go without saying that What you believe determines how you live. But as we think about the truth of that statement, and then compare our lives with what we believe, we know that this is true. Do you have some doubts? Let me give you some examples.

Do we believe in God and His Word? If so, we will read, study and obey that Word, knowing that God has spoken and, being God, demands our obedience. Our study of His Word and obedience thereto is a reflection of whether or not we really believe in him or not.

Do we believe that worshipping the Lord is important? If we so believe, we will sing with the spirit and understanding (1 Corinthians 14:15). We will partake of the Lords Supper every first day of the week, realizing that this connects us with God and one another, and it causes us to reflect on the awesome sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, that purchased our redemption. We will give as God has prospered us. We will pray with our hearts in tune to God, not concerned about what someone else may be thinking, but concentrating on what we want to say to God. We will listen to the Word of God being taught, not because of the man doing the preaching, but simply because it is the WORD OF GOD.

Do we believe that edifying one another in the body of Christ is important? If we so believe, we will attend the gatherings of the body of Christ at every service, not just on Sunday mornings (Hebrews 10:25). We will realize that we owe it to other brethren to admonish, exhort and encourage them in the lives they live, and they owe the same to us. We will realize that our failure to attend when we can does discourage many in the work of the Lord, and being thus discouraged, they, too, might begin to miss opportunities to exhort yet others (Hebrews 10:24). While we wonder if the early Christians met twice on every Sunday, we do know that they met on every day of the week, and they were not so bound by time as we seem to think we are. Yes, what we really believe determines how we live.

Do we believe that the world is lost without hearing the gospel of Christ? If we so believe, we will do what we can to help our friends and neighbors hear the gospel and make sure of their relationship with God. If we do not believe that they are lost, we will not make the effort.

Do we believe that the Christian walk is a walkand that we are not through until God gives us our last breath? Perhaps sometimes we get to thinking we can slack off in some way or another, but where do we find that idea in Scripture?

Do we believe that God has prospered us to help others? Often we spend the money God gives us on ourselves, without regards to others and their needs. God has given us blessings so that we might be a blessing to others. Do we believe this?

On and on we could go, but we understand the point. The question is, will our lives match our beliefs? I certainly hope so.