Rick Warren (April 26, 2025) Daily Devotional: The Best Benefit of Believing.
“I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies like anyone else, shall live again. He is given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish.” - John 11:25-26 (TLB)
There are a lot of benefits to believing in Jesus and having a relationship with him. But even if God removed all the other benefits, there would still be this, and it’s a pretty big deal: When you believe in Jesus Christ, you are guaranteed eternal life. Your eternity is sealed because of Jesus’ resurrection.
You see, Jesus bringing himself back to life changed everything. It literally split history into A.D. and B.C. It’s the most important event ever. And, it proves three things.
First, it proves that Jesus is exactly who he claimed to be. He repeatedly said he was the Son of God who came to die for our sins. And he did just that.
Jesus’ resurrection is one of the most well documented events in history. It would stand up in any court of law. In fact it has many, many times throughout centuries.
The resurrection also proves that Jesus keeps his promises. Jesus told his disciples that he was going to let the people kill him and that he would come back to life. If he kept that promise, then you know you can trust the thousands of other promises God makes in his Word.
The third thing the resurrection proves is that there is life after death. If Jesus Christ hadn’t resurrected, you would have no hope for the future. This life on earth would be all there is—and that’s not worth placing your hope in!
Jesus said in John 11:25-26, “I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies like anyone else, shall live again. He is given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish” (TLB).
Where else are you going to get a promise like that? Nowhere! Who else can give that to you? No one! If you don’t get the promise of eternal life from Jesus, then you won’t have it.
That is an amazing benefit, and it’s available to you today. What’s the qualification? You only have to believe.
Talk It Over
- Why do you think God wants you to choose to believe in him? Why is salvation not automatic?
- What does it mean to you that God keeps his promises?
- How does your salvation give you hope?
