We Must Not Rest in Our Faith

"Faith is different from proof; the latter is human, the former is a gift from God.”  - Blaise Pascal

We must not rest in our faith. Many are quite satisfied by the status of their faith. The plain truth of the matter is, with respect to our faith, we can easily get lulled into a false sense of security. This is especially so if we are naive, or arrogant enough to believe that we have acquired all the faith we need.

This point was of such importance that the apostle Peter expressed this in his letter to the scattered groups of Christians that resided in the Roman provinces. Perhaps they too were satisfied with the level of their faith, as some are today (2 Peter1:5-10).

Even though they had attained precious faith, and were sharers of the divine nature; they were encouraged to press forward toward even more abundant faith. Peter was hoping to motivate and challenge them to pursue even greater faith in grace and holiness (Hebrews 11:6).

In order to generate any real progress in religion one must diligently work at it. It isn't enough to simply read a Bible, and/or attend church. As is the case with any worthy endeavor, you will have to give it your all. No headway can be made without hard work. If you're not willing to do this, then you will gain nothing from it (Psalm 119:4).

What does this mean? It means that faith just doesn't drop from the sky; it is acquired. And it is obtained in small steps. Spiritual growth occurs slowly. This might be why some become frustrated. In these times of instant gratification, we want full-blown faith, and we want it now! It's not going to happen (Proverbs 4:23).

Amy Wilson Carmichael (1867-1951), a Protestant Christian missionary in India said this about spiritual growth: "Sometimes when we read the words of those who have been more than conquerors, we feel almost despondent. I feel that I shall never be like that. But they won through step by step by little bits of wills little denials of self little inward victories by faithfulness in very little things. They became what they are. No one sees these little hidden steps. They only see the accomplishment, but even so, those small steps were taken. There is no sudden triumph no [sudden]spiritual maturity. That is the work of the moment."

Here's a newsflash for those impatient foot-tappers, in regards to faith. God is more interested in the process than the product (Philippians 2:13). He recognizes our differences in spiritual growth. This is even more so when it comes to faith. But, we won't get penalized for our rate of progress. Spiritual growth is not a sprint, it's a marathon.

And don't worry if your goal of perfection in faith seems unreachable. It only serves to point out how far you have yet to go. Above all, it's about diligence and obedience (2 Corinthians 7:15). And it's your obedience that signifies how far you've truly come. For one's faith will grow step-by-step if you are obedient to what God commands of you today (Hebrews 6:11).

Scripture: Colossians 1:9-10; 2 Peter 3:18; Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Philippians 1:6

Prayer: Holy Father, I want you in the center of my life. And I commit, through your power, to serve, honor, and obey you always. Amen

May God bless you!

Alexa