It is Impossible to Please God Without Faith

As a mother was walking with her 4-year-old daughter, the girl picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth, and Mom told her not to do that.

"Why?" she asked. "Because it's been lying outside and is dirty and probably has germs."

At this point, she looked at her mother with total admiration and asked, "How do you know all this stuff?"

Thinking quickly, she replied, "It's on the mommy test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be a mommy." "Oh." She said seemingly satisfied.

They walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but the daughter was evidently pondering this new information. "I get it!" she beamed. "Then if you flunk, you have to be the daddy!"

The Bible contains many examples of why we, as Christians, should test, or assess, our own faith to see if we indeed have what it takes to go the distance. Paul’s ministry travels had taken him many places. During his visits, morale and motivation was probably very high. But, what happened after he left? He could only hope that his teachings and the support of his followers there would help keep it all going strong. But, unfortunately this was not always the case.

For example, Paul had received reports of problems in the church in Corinth. In a letter he wrote to the church there, Paul calls on the Corinthians to examine, or perform a faith checkup on, themselves because there was occasion to fear that many of them had been deceived. Such had been the irregularities and disorders in the church at Corinth; so ignorant had many of them shown themselves of the nature of the Christian religion, that it was important, in the highest degree, for them to institute a strict and impartial faith examination to find out whether they had not been altogether deceived.

What might an examination of faith, or test, consist of? I suppose that you could go about it in different ways, but I have listed below some ways that a person could examine himself faith-wise. They are:

Let him search and see if he has the proper qualifications.
Let him see if he has knowledge to discern the Lord's body.
Let him see if he has true repentance for his sins; true faith in the Lord Jesus; and a sincere desire to live the life of a Christian, and to be like the Son of God, and be saved by the merits of his blood.
Let him examine himself, and see whether he have the right feelings of a communicant, and can approach the table in a proper manner.

Keep in mind that, although it is God's gracious method to bear long with sinners, he will not bear always; at length he will come, and will not spare those who remain obstinate and impenitent. Christ at his crucifixion, appeared as only a weak and helpless man, but his resurrection and life showed his Divine power. In other words, God doesn’t play around!

Remember, in the end, every man's work shall be made manifest. What every man has built on this foundation shall be seen. Whether he has held truth or error; whether he has had correct views of piety or false; whether what he has done has been what he should have done or not!

The Bible says, "Without faith, it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). This is faith -- believing that God does exist, that He loves you and wants to have a relationship with you through His Son, Jesus Christ.

We ought to know if Christ Jesus is in us, by the influences, graces, and indwelling of his Spirit, by his kingdom set up in our hearts. Let us question our own souls; either we are true Christians, or we are deceivers. Which one are you?

“Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.” 2 Corinthians 13:5

Scripture Readings: 1 Corinthians 3:13; 1 Corinthians 11:28; Lamentations 3:40; Ephesians 3:17

Let's Pray: Jesus, I praise you and everything thing you do for us; I pray that I will always walk in the strength and committment of faith that you expect and deserve; and that I will never forget how you died in order to give us a chance at everlasting life with You. Amen.

May God bless you always,

Kristen