Friday Faith Check-up: Faith In God Isn't Complicated

"Don't ever think that there are many ways to the Divine. Jesus is the one qualified mediator, the only qualified sacrifice, and the only qualified savior."  - Erwin Lutze

A  problem with today's world is that we are inundated with far too many options. Whether it's purchasing an automobile, choosing health coverage, or deciding what we want to watch on T.V., we are presented with a profusion of choices.

Maybe, these are just the rantings of someone from another generation, but what happened to simplicity? Is it wrong to request plainness? Or to long for a little more understandability? Besides appliances, food, and insurance plans, we can ask the same questions about our faith.

I think that most would agree that simple but genuine trust in God is the essence of true religion. No bells and whistles, or razzle-dazzle. It's uncomplicated and straight-forward. The keys to a good, rock-solid, relationship with God are: having faith in, and dependence on Him.

The apostle Paul put it well when he told the Christians in Galatia that, "a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ" (Galatians 2:16). Plain and simple. We become the children of God as a result of faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26), and are not overwhelmed with a range of possibilities.

Faith in God, as he has graciously revealed to us in His Son Jesus Christ, is the grounds on which we let God enter our lives. Furthermore, it is through faith that we let God do wonderous things in us, to us, and through us.

Since we are talking about simplicity in faith, it might not be a bad idea take genuine faith and whittle it down a little more, making it even more clear. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a good starting point. Here, we not only find encouragement for our faith, but are given an excellent explanation of the fundamental qualities of our walk of faith.

We should also be alert for anything that might make us lean toward self-righteousness. Those of us who put faith in God would do well not to walk with the arrogant stride of a know-it-all. Rather, we should leave ourselves accessible to divine direction, and strive daily to do God's will.

It's not a stretch to say that our world has become more complicated, and will probably continue to do so. In our quest to make our lives easier and less-complicated, we have either consciously, or unconsciously added a certain degree of complexity to it. I understand that some of it is good, and even necessary, but some aspects of it, not so much.

Fortunately, there is one thing that hasn't changed hasn't changed over the course of time. Jesus Christ did not come to us in order to complicate things. His message of faith, love, hope, and salvation is quite simple, and still applies. Any confusion has been our own doing, and not God's.

In closing, God's love for the world was why he did what He did for us. For Him, it was a no-brainer. Sacrificing His Only Son Jesus Christ, in our place, He provided a way for us to be forgiven of our sins (John 3:16; 1 Peter 2:24). Through His selfless action, our salvation is secured by our faith in Him (Acts 10:43). And, I ask you, what could be more simple than that?

Scripture: Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 2:8

Prayer: Dear Lord, by Your grace and forgiveness, I have been saved; may my faith always remain strong and true; and my heart filled with Your love. Amen

Have a blessed weekend!

Kaye