DO WE TAKE OUR FAITH SERIOUS?
For those who declare their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, such declarations are founded upon our faith in the redemptive work He provides through His death on the Cross. Our promise of eternal life is based upon His resurrection. These two provisions are foundational for our relationship with the Father, because faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection are the means of our reconciliation with God.
And so, “we walk by faith, not by sight”.
Our faith in Jesus should include more than the provisions of our salvation, however. Shouldn’t our faith in Him also include placing our trust in His teachings which should serve as our moral and ethical guide. His summary of the Law and the Prophets address our relationship not only with God, but with others as well. Jesus’ teachings are simple but profound: Love God with all your being; and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). Imagine a world that incorporated these two primary teachings as a basis of their values and actions.
While we may accept these two thoughts in concept, do we incorporate them in our relationship with God in terms of worship and obedience? Do we treat others in the way we desire to be treated?
Do we take our faith serious?
ANOTHER EXAMPLE
The Scriptures provide two sure-fire remedies for anxiety, the first one found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. There we find Jesus teaching us not to be anxious about the necessities of life, viz., food, drink, clothing – the preoccupations of an unbelieving world.
The remedy of such anxieties, Jesus teaches is continually seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness. He adds, “…and all these things will be added to you.” This begs the question, especially for worriers, “How much time do you spend seeking God’s kingdom, His active rule in your lives, His direction in your life?” “And His righteousness?” Upon what do you base your values and actions? In essence, are we engaged in loving God with our whole being and our neighbor as ourselves? (See Matthew 6:25-34)
The Apostle Paul also provides insight on how to overcome anxiety. He writes that we should not be anxious for anything, but “in everything by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving,” we should let our “requests be known to God.” Honest, sincere, faith and trust in prayer, Paul adds, results in “the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Because it is peace coming from God, the peace we gain surpasses all comprehension because it comes from a supernatural source, God, and is supernaturally infused by the Holy Spirit, and is watched over, viz., guarded by Christ Jesus.
Paul does add this stipulation that after we have prayed and given thanks, we must control our thoughts. The Apostle is borrowing from the thoughts of Isaiah who wrote, “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3)
Paul expounds upon the Prophets words by adding: “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
Don’t equate this with “positive thinking,” but embrace it as mental declarations of God’s faithfulness. His ways are true. His ways are honorable. His ways are right. His motives are pure and lovely and our trust in Him is adorned with our praise. Dwell on Him! His Goodness! His Faithfulness!
We focus upon Him and all His goodness rather than our problems. He will intervene through His personal attention or through the revelation of His wisdom granting us understanding on how to approach and resolve the issues.
Our “faith” must be more than lip service, a nodding of the head, but an active part of our relationship with both God and others. Our “faith” incorporates the teachings of Scripture because seeing life through God’s eyes is much clearer and assuring – if we put to practice what we believe.
I don’t know about you, but I need to take my focus off the affairs of life, off the trials and tribulations taking place in our world, and to bring any anxieties to God and allow for that “peace, peace, wonderful, coming down from the Father above…sweep over my spirit forever I pray, in fathomless billows of love.”
Take your faith serious! Take time alone with God. Take time to read and meditate upon His Word. Incorporate His ways in your lives. Allow the Peace of God to control your heart and your thoughts.
Father, in our walk with You, our walk of faith, help us not to be distracted, or even overwrought with the cares of this life, but lead us in paths of righteousness for Your namesake. May we take our eyes off our worries, our anxieties. May we seek you in our prayers with thanksgiving for all you have provided and will provide; and may your peace be secured by You Christ Jesus! May our minds be steadfast upon You! Amen.
And so, “we walk by faith, not by sight”.
Our faith in Jesus should include more than the provisions of our salvation, however. Shouldn’t our faith in Him also include placing our trust in His teachings which should serve as our moral and ethical guide. His summary of the Law and the Prophets address our relationship not only with God, but with others as well. Jesus’ teachings are simple but profound: Love God with all your being; and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). Imagine a world that incorporated these two primary teachings as a basis of their values and actions.
While we may accept these two thoughts in concept, do we incorporate them in our relationship with God in terms of worship and obedience? Do we treat others in the way we desire to be treated?
Do we take our faith serious?
ANOTHER EXAMPLE
The Scriptures provide two sure-fire remedies for anxiety, the first one found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. There we find Jesus teaching us not to be anxious about the necessities of life, viz., food, drink, clothing – the preoccupations of an unbelieving world.
The remedy of such anxieties, Jesus teaches is continually seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness. He adds, “…and all these things will be added to you.” This begs the question, especially for worriers, “How much time do you spend seeking God’s kingdom, His active rule in your lives, His direction in your life?” “And His righteousness?” Upon what do you base your values and actions? In essence, are we engaged in loving God with our whole being and our neighbor as ourselves? (See Matthew 6:25-34)
The Apostle Paul also provides insight on how to overcome anxiety. He writes that we should not be anxious for anything, but “in everything by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving,” we should let our “requests be known to God.” Honest, sincere, faith and trust in prayer, Paul adds, results in “the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Because it is peace coming from God, the peace we gain surpasses all comprehension because it comes from a supernatural source, God, and is supernaturally infused by the Holy Spirit, and is watched over, viz., guarded by Christ Jesus.
Paul does add this stipulation that after we have prayed and given thanks, we must control our thoughts. The Apostle is borrowing from the thoughts of Isaiah who wrote, “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3)
Paul expounds upon the Prophets words by adding: “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
Don’t equate this with “positive thinking,” but embrace it as mental declarations of God’s faithfulness. His ways are true. His ways are honorable. His ways are right. His motives are pure and lovely and our trust in Him is adorned with our praise. Dwell on Him! His Goodness! His Faithfulness!
We focus upon Him and all His goodness rather than our problems. He will intervene through His personal attention or through the revelation of His wisdom granting us understanding on how to approach and resolve the issues.
Our “faith” must be more than lip service, a nodding of the head, but an active part of our relationship with both God and others. Our “faith” incorporates the teachings of Scripture because seeing life through God’s eyes is much clearer and assuring – if we put to practice what we believe.
I don’t know about you, but I need to take my focus off the affairs of life, off the trials and tribulations taking place in our world, and to bring any anxieties to God and allow for that “peace, peace, wonderful, coming down from the Father above…sweep over my spirit forever I pray, in fathomless billows of love.”
Take your faith serious! Take time alone with God. Take time to read and meditate upon His Word. Incorporate His ways in your lives. Allow the Peace of God to control your heart and your thoughts.
Father, in our walk with You, our walk of faith, help us not to be distracted, or even overwrought with the cares of this life, but lead us in paths of righteousness for Your namesake. May we take our eyes off our worries, our anxieties. May we seek you in our prayers with thanksgiving for all you have provided and will provide; and may your peace be secured by You Christ Jesus! May our minds be steadfast upon You! Amen.
"for we walk by faith, not by sight..." 2 Corinthains 5:7
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