Living by faith.
Recently, I was listening to a few new worship songs during a devotional time. One began to play that immediately caught my attention. It’s title: Give me faith. It made me realise that faith alone is not something I often ask for or sing about. As I began to dwell on the lyrics, and search the scriptures, the importance of asking for faith became clear to me. If we are a people who are called to live by faith, shouldn’t we be asking God for it?
The Chorus of the song is as follows
Give me faith
To trust what you say
That you’re good
And your love is great
I’m broken inside
I give you my life.
Give me faith.
The tune itself is simple, and the message is clear. When I opened up the scriptures I found the application to be profound. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Three things stood out to me here. Firstly, it’s essential to come to faith in God. Each of us will have a unique testimony of when we first believed the gospel. Secondly, that we must continue in faith. If we are to draw near to God, me must continue believing, and grow in our faith. Thirdly, faith pleases God. Of all the things God could delight in, and require of us, faith is top of the list. Our gifts, knowledge and good works bring him glory, but without faith we cannot please Him.
What is faith?
Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” C.S Lewis suggested that “Faith, is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.” The best understanding I’ve come to is God wants us to develop a confident hope and deep trust in Himself and His promises.
Faith in what?
The person and work of Jesus Christ. When Jesus is asked by his disciples “What must we do to do the works God requires?” He responds with “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6 28-29. Also Galatians 2:20 says “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
So what?
Most of us will have taken the first step in faith, and find ourselves somewhere along the journey of believing in Jesus, and walking with him. Trusting in God, and drawing near to him by faith will be easy in some seasons of life, and difficult in others. Sickness and suffering often prove to be the hardest times for us as believers. This is where faith is tested, and our need for an unshakeable foundation becomes clearest. Where ever you find yourself, take some time to pray for faith. That you would trust God is good, and his love is great in both the ups and downs of life.
As I’ve written this, I’m thankful for my friends whose faith and dependence on God in all seasons are examples I’ve been learning from.
DW