~ written by Connie Dunmyer
Over the past couple of blogs, I’ve been talking about “faith”, specifically as defined by Paul in his letter to the Romans in chapter 4. And I want to continue in that vein.
Hebrews 11:6 says “without faith it is impossible to please God...” So it would seem that faith is a pretty essential part to this spiritual journey I’m on. Indeed, it’s fuel to my relationship with God. If I don’t have faith, then I cannot trust. And if I cannot trust, why would I even bother communing with the Father. And if I’m not communing with Him, I’ve essentially just re-created God into a Santa Claus image… someone I’m not really convinced even exists. Like it says in Romans:
Romans 10:14 says “How can they call on the one they have not believed in?”
So how do we get this faith that is integral to our relationship?
Here is what I’ve found:
Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…”
Romans 10:17 “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
So it’s a gift. And not just any gift, it’s from God Himself. I must hear the message. What message? The message sent by the Word of God.
Well that seems a bit simplistic. But it does take me back to the message “The Man on the Middle Cross”.
Wow! So seriously, to even come to Jesus is a gift. To even hear the message is a gift. How many times has Jesus come to me – and I have ignored Him, or said to myself “Later”. When in fact, I should drop anything I’m doing, and run to Him, run to His Word, and absorb whatever He has for me at any given moment.
If faith is so important, then I want MORE!
The disciples said the same thing:
Luke 17:5 “Increase our faith!”
I don’t know why, but this makes me think of “Tim the Toolman”, from Home Improvement, always wanting “more power”!
I guess it’s a guy-thing. And I CAN kind of see Peter as a Tim the Toolman.
Anyway….
Luke 17:6 Jesus replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.”
Ok. So size does not matter.
I either have faith or I don’t. And if I don’t… I can only surmise that means I tossed it away – because it is a gift. I have been gifted with ALL I need for this struggle, this problem, this crisis, this cloudy day.
And then I read this quote from Kathy Bright:
“Do you want to know something very encouraging? God does not require us to have great faith. We are simply to have faith in a great God! And because He knows that sometimes we forget to have faith in His Power, He puts reminders all around us!”
It’s not about how big my faith is. Again, that would make it about ME …. And it’s NOT about me. It’s about how great is my God… All-Powerful, All-Loving, All-Compassion, Always with me.
But sometimes it seems like I don’t even have faith compared to other people.
Ephesians 4:4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, ONE FAITH, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Hmmmm. Well, if the size of my faith isn’t what matters, and my gift of faith is the same as Billy Graham’s gift of faith, then how can I strengthen my faith?
Philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
There’s that word again – “give”. I am GIFTED with the strength.
James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the TESTING OF YOUR FAITH produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Well, I asked for it. Not gonna lie, I was not looking at the testing of my faith as a way to strengthen my faith. I mean, let’s face it… testing often hurts. But I’m told to consider it joy. So once again, a paradigm shift has to take place in the way to view things and deal with things. Even faith-strengthening exercises.
1 Corinthians 10:13 “… God is faithful; he will not let you be tested beyond what you can bear. But when you are tested, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
The way to "More Power" is through "More Testing". That's why I should consider it pure joy ... because it's yet another gift. The ability to have more power comes through the trials and the testing of my faith. And since God give me HIS strength, HIS power, to endure... then what am I complaining about anyway.
I am so grateful for a great Father, Who is perfect in ALL His dealings with me.
- He gives me the faith I need for a relationship with Him.
- He gives me His Word to remind me of all His words, messages and promises.
- He doesn’t look down on me for having a seed-sized-faith. The faith He has gifted me is all I need.
- The faith I have, is the same faith as any great teacher, theologian or pastor. It’s not second-rate.
- He strengthens my faith by coaching me with faith-testing. But never too much. Never too little. Just right.
- And He gives me HIS strength for all of this. Even that is not my own... which is a VERY good thing!
- I am gifted with More Power than I could ever dream.
So be joyful, dear soul, even on difficult days. For my the strength of my faith is in the hands of my loving Father.
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