I’m working on a devotional project for a youth summer camp, and one section of that devotional is about the relationship between logic and faith, in regards to following Jesus. I wanted to share this with others too, because I know it’s relatable for each of us.
As you read through this, you will notice that the wording is geared towards teenagers, but try to place it in your context as well. I pray you are encouraged in your faith!
PREPARE:
I don’t know about you, but I’m a logical thinker. I often look at various options and try to decide which one makes the most sense. Which path will take me down a trajectory that I think will benefit me and my family’s life and other people? I’m sure that you can relate to this at some level, however, there are definitely times where we do not think through our decisions and we later regret it. Let’s be honest, we’ve all done this. Maybe you don’t think at all before you make fun of a classmate, or someone else has made a selfish decision that impacted you and other people in a bad way. We would all save ourselves a lot of trouble if we took a step back and gave thought before we say or do certain things!
Can we do this with spiritual things, though? Can and should we follow God based on logical reasoning and thinking? You may be surprised by the answer – yes and no! First, read this Scripture:
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
-Romans 8:37-39
THE NEED:
Now, back to the previous question. Can and should we follow God based on logical reasoning and thinking?
- Yes: The story and teachings of the Bible align with our deepest needs and desires and directly connect with our hearts. The message of the Gospel of Jesus is exactly what we are looking for and reminds us that we are ultimately helpless. The promise of Heaven is what we are all longing for now. We want a world where everyone gets along and no one gets hurt. The verses you just read are exactly what you want. You and I desire a perfect connection with God our maker that cannot be broken by anything and lasts forever.
- No: Although it makes logical sense to follow Jesus and is the wisest decision, it also requires faith and trust. We have to do something. We actually practice our faith with everything in life. When you wake up to go to school, you have faith that the car you are in is going to get you there safely. When you go to practice, you have faith that your coach is going to help you get better. If you study for that test well (like, actually study!), you have faith that you will make it through the test. The list goes on and on. We practice our faith with everything we do, trusting that everything will turn out okay. Following Jesus is the same way. All of the evidence and logic is there in front of you, that following Him is worth it, however, you have to choose to do so. Love is a choice and cannot be forced. When you choose to put your faith in Christ, you are entering into a love relationship that will last forever! Having faith doesn’t take away any logic, facts or truth. It’s simply your actions towards the things that you can trust!
THE NEXT STEP:
So, is Jesus a stronghold that is worth following? Can you actually put your faith in Him and trust Him?
Hebrews 11:6 says,
“Without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.”
Faith is a GOOD thing! When you put our faith in God, all of the promises He makes become ours. The rewards far outweigh the difficulty of following Jesus!
Matthew Weaver 