I recently read a devotional by Dr. Tony Evans that caught my attention. Here is the jest of what Dr. Evans was trying to convey to his readers. What do we mean when we talk about faith? We use the word a lot, but it’s a concept that many of us have found hard to grasp. Hebrews 11:1 defines it well: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Faith is substantial, but faith deals with what you cannot yet see. If you place seeing before faith, then it isn’t really faith at all. Faith is anticipating what you are looking forward to. Faith is about expectation, and the biblical word for that is hope. When you and I learn to expect big things from God and move in sync with Him through obedience (which is the essence of how faith is to be played out in our lives), then we will see more of God in our everyday circumstances. We will have more reason for hope.
Faith is not an event. It is a lifestyle. So, let’s grow in our embrace of faith, so that we can see more of God at work in our daily choices, actions, and expectations. There’s a lot more He is ready to do when He knows we’re trusting in Him to do it. Factually speaking, when we believe in who God is and trust in what He is capable of doing in our lives and in this world, then we can be encouraged and energized to be faith-filled people who hold a deep desire to be participants in His saving plan. This verse from “Love in Christ Is Strong and Living” speaks of this idea: (Love in Christ is strong and living, Binding faithful hearts in one; Love in Christ is true and giving. May His will in us be done). Our hope is built on nothing less than the love God has for us in Christ Jesus. Jesus said in Mark 10:15 "Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive (by faith) the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it". Pastor McCarty
Comments