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Wednesday, December 4, 2013

A Few Thoughts on Faith

A Few Thoughts on Faith
                                       
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"To have faith" means different things to people.  Here are a few thoughts:

1-  One of the most import characteristics about understanding our Faith is that it is a Gift of God, authored by and perfected by Jesus.  We can do nothing to earn it, We do not deserve it, we are unworthy of it but Faith is instilled in us upon hearing the "divine revelation" of God's word and accepting the "divine persuasion" that Jesus is Lord.  

 Hebrews 12:2  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Romans 12:3   For I say , through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think ; but to think soberly ,a according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

2-  Just as we love people and we want a relationship with those we love and care for, in the same manner God loves us (John 3:16) and desires a relationship with us; after all, He created us.  That Relationship with Him is what we call Faith .  Faith with anyone or with God, or God with us is based on the desire for a Relationship.  Just as in faith we trust people who love us, so too, in our God given Faith, we Trust God.  The more we put our Trust in God the more we Love Him; the more we Love Him, the more we desire to Trust him, just as we do with people.

Trust God in all your circumstances especially in the worst of your circumstances and you will come to Trust Him and Love Him all  the more.  As we trust God more, the more our lives will be changed as we grow and mature in faith.  Our growth in faith is not about the size of our faith as it is about how we respond to the circumstances of our lives in Faith.  The size of faith is not all that important when faith even the size of a mustard seed can move a mountian (if that is God's will).  "Growing in Faith" does not necessairly mean our faith is getting bigger because of what we do, but it means our Faith is maturing and growing deeper in our hearts as we respond to life's circumstances in Faith and and in our Relationship of Trusting and Loving God.

Faith-Our Relationship with God,  it is what we live by.
Romans 12: 2-3
2  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.3  For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 
  • Matthew 17:20 NIV

    He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as amustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. "

Luke 17:5-10 (NIV)

The apostles said to the LORD, "Increase our faith!"

6 He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you."Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'?8 Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'?9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "

3-  "Faith will not, however, change the circumstances of our lives. Instead, it changes us. Living in faith does not shield us from the pain and difficulties of life, it does not undo the past, and it will not guarantee a particular future. Rather, faith is the means by which we face and deal with the circumstances of life – the difficulties and losses, the joys and successes, the opportunities and possibilities."


Thanks Be to God.

© lonnie coggins


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ldcoggins@gmail.com

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lonnie

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