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A Planting of Faith Seeds for the Glory of the LORD
The Gift of Faith…
“Abram believed the LORD. And the LORD accepted Abram’s faith, and that faith made him right with God.” (Genesis 15:6, NCV)
As difficult as faith is to understand the only thing harder to understand is how important faith really is in our lives. This morning I am writing this sitting on our patio in front of me is a huge tree, I do not need faith to know it is a tree and as I look at the tree and the white clouds moving against the blue sky my belief in God ignites my faith in God’s presence. I cannot see God like I can see the tree, the clouds, and the sky yet because God accepts my belief in his reality in response he gives me through the Holy Spirit the gift of faith and as I exercise the gift of faith my belief in God gives way to experiencing his presence.
Often we speak of faith as if it is “authored” by us yet R.C. Sproul suggests that faith originates with God not us. “Faith is not seen as an accomplishment of the human spirit. In fact, faith is not something that is naturally exercised by a fallen human being.” (Chapter 3: A Gift from God, “What Is Faith?” page 47, Reformation Trust Publishing) Once God gives us the gift of faith he does not retain its ownership therefore faith becomes ours and with ownership comes the responsibility of its stewardship, its use, and further development.
Not only does God give us the gift of faith and transfer its ownership to us he also leads us in experiences whereby we can and do develop and deepen our faith not in the gifts of God but in God himself. Author Mike Erre writes: “God leads us to places where we don’t know how He’ll work or we can’t see what He’s up to. It is not God’s way to give us formulas or blueprints. His will often makes sense only through the rearview mirror. God delights in calling us into places where faith grows more readily—where we are in over our heads or at the end of our ropes. He does this so we’ll learn to trust Him, though we usually resist going where He takes us.” (Mike Erre, “Astonished: Recapturing the Wonder, Awe, and Mystery of Life with God” page 99), David C. Cook. Kindle Edition)
“God, so often I take faith for granted. There are times when I reduce it to just believing in something I need or want to happen. Yet in reality faith begins in you and becomes mine to have and to develop into a living relationship with you when I plant my seed of belief into the world around me. So many times I think of my life as being fragile but under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit my fragility gives way not to superhuman strength but divine strength. Lord, forgive my shortsightedness. Amen!”
Believe it! Experience it!
Grace and PEACE!
Gary
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“Keep your roots deep in him and have your lives built on him. Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught, and always be thankful.” (Colossians 2:7, NCV)
“Keep your roots deep in him and have your lives built on him. Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught, and always be thankful.” (Colossians 2:7, NCV)
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"Scriptures marked NCV are quoted from The Holy Bible, New Century Version, copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, Dallas, Texas 75039. Used by permission."