Romans 5:Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Faith is a real thing and our faith does many things for us. Number 1 - It makes us right with God. Vs 1. Number 2 - It gives us peace because we are made right with God. Vs 1. Number 3 - We are brought into a place of undeserved privilege and we stand in that privilege as we share God's glory. Vs 2. Number 4 - It gives us a reason to rejoice in our problems and trials because we know God is working everything out and that develops our walk and our FAITH. Vs 3. So it all comes back to faith. Faith is vital to our walk with God. The writer of Hebrews addressed faith this way where he wrote 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Really, life itself is impossible without faith. So faith is a necessary ingredient to our walk and our life, so make sure you have it. Initially we come to faith in Jesus and receive Him as Savior and Lord and then on our journey we put our total trust in Him for direction and power to live our lives and Jesus shows us more and more things about FAITH.
When we go through difficult times we either throw up our hands in disbelief or we have FAITH. Without that FAITH we cannot begin to please God and that fact alone should call us to have more faith. But does it? Life itself can be overwhelming and without my faith I would be lost and hopelessly drifting. But because of my faith I can trust God and come to Him for the power I need to live my life and hurdle the bad things that come my way. And it is not just about bad things that should cause our faith to step up. We can have faith in praying for God to do great and mighty things in our life. I have heard some preach that our faith should not prompt us to have a spiritual grocery list where we ask for just about anything. But a list would be helpful to keep us on track for what we know we need and want. God is a BIG God and He can do anything because all things are possible with God. If the power of God is being limited then who is doing the limiting? And is that person losing their faith that God can come through like He says he can? I would think so. It is probably not a good idea to tell God He cannot do something. God can do anything He wants. Do you believe that? Maybe there is hope for your faith then.
Some may come up with a formula for getting God to do something and then become discouraged when the formula doesn't work. Faith is not a formula. Faith is FAITH. 1 John 5:14-15 says 14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. Our faith comes from a relationship with a faithful God. So God hears your prayers and as our Abba Father He responds in some way or the other, so don't despair. He is a good, good Father.
Just remember Faith is a Real Thing and don't let yourself be talked out of having faith when God is just wanting to hear you pray with it. Go on. Please God. Have FAITH!!
The Pilgrimage continues.....
David Warren