Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Faith

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1

We all use the phrase "person of faith".  What does it mean to be a person of faith?  Is a person of faith someone who is really good at exercising faith?

I guess a "person of faith" is someone who is good at exercising their faith.  Look at the examples in Hebrews chapter 11.  But I'm sure that being a "person of faith" is not completely or even chiefly about being good at exercising faith.

I think we often look at faith in the wrong direction.  Faith isn't powerful because of the skill of the person with the faith.  Faith is powerful because of the object of the faith.  Faith is only powerful when the object of the faith is worthy of that faith.

Someone who is good at exercising faith in, let's say, the Washington Nationals winning the World Series this year is a fool.  Is he/she a fool because they aren't skilled at exercising faith?  If they have enough faith to purchase World Series tickets today to see the Nationals play are they not exercising extreme faith?  Of course they are but there is no power in that.

The power of faith in God is that we have faith in a sure thing.  Knowing that God is a sure thing will make us more bold in exercising our faith.  Let's say I was Marty McFly and had the 2013 Sports Almanac read it and saw which team was going to win the World Series.  My faith in that team would be unshakable, even if they were like the Cardinals last year and it looked like there was no chance.  I'd bet a lot of money on that team.

We have been given the 2013 Sports Almanac, McFly.  We have the Holy Bible and it tells us who wins.  That very reason is why our faith is powerful, not because of what you or I do.  So go ahead and exercise your faith in a sure thing.  Exercise your faith in God today.

2 comments:

  1. "Biblical faith is expecting God to do what He says He is going to do through Jesus Christ." Dr. Darryl Aaron (one of my profs)

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  2. Exactly. Faith isn't wishing. I think Dr. Aaron stole borrowed that, but it is a great definition. Faith isn't weak.

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