What do you believe?

I read a blog post from Compassion International today that got me thinking, but first I must digress from my point... We have adopted the cutest little little boy through Compassion. His name is Cesar and he's from El Salvador. He loves to play soccer. He writes us letters and draws us pictures...I love him!

Back to the point...
I was reading this in one of their blogs:
This is what we believe. It defines our ministry.

We believe

…in the Holy Scriptures as originally given by God,
divinely inspired, infallible, entirely trustworthy; and the
supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct…

One God, eternally existent in three persons, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit…

Our Lord Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, His
virgin birth, His sinless human life, His divine miracles,
His vicarious and atoning death, His bodily resurrection,
His ascension, His mediatorial work, and His Personal
return in power and glory…

The Salvation of lost and sinful man through the shed
blood of the Lord Jesus Christ by faith apart from works,
and regeneration by the Holy Spirit…

The Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the believer is
enabled to live a holy life, to witness and work for the
Lord Jesus Christ…

The Unity of the Spirit of all true believers, the Church,
the Body of Christ…

The Resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they
that are saved unto the resurrection of life, they that are
lost unto the resurrection of damnation.

I liked the very first line, "this is what be beleive. It defines our ministry." I once heard in a sermon that values mean nothing unless they change behavior. That really stuck with me. I can say all I want that I believe in the power of The Holy Spirit, and I do. I believe it true when I hear of stories of healing, love, forgiveness, and restoration that happen each and every day because of the Holy Spirit's power.

Just sometimes...I forget that that same power resides in me and all the other followers of Christ.

How would I be different if I truly realized that? How much more effective would I be if I allowed God to work in the ways that He wants to through me?

It's important to pursue knowledge so that we may define our behavior in regards to what we believe.

How do your beliefs influence your behavior? Are you pursuing knowledge to strengthen and encourage yourself?