FAITH IN ACTION CONFIRMS OUR CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN THE LORD

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for
and assurance about what we do not see.”
(Hebrews 11:1)

MEDITATION:
“Faith” is defined as, “complete trust or confidence in someone, or something”.
It is not described as a ‘partial’ or ‘conditional’,
but a ‘complete’ trust or confidence.

When we have complete trust, it means that we are willing to live our lives in
obedience to the someone or something we trust, even when we don’t understand.
Why would we do that?
We do that, because we know that the expectations of the One we trust
are always, and will always be, for our best interest and the benefit of others.

Unfortunately, there is constant opposition to our developing
and sustaining our trust in a loving and giving Lord.
Consequently, doubts are planted in our minds,
and it is how we handle these doubts that is of greatest importance.
We can consider them and seek to discredit them, but the best plan of action
is to escort them out of our mind, and to remember why we trust the One we do.

A nobleman’s son became ill so he sought
and found Jesus to request healing for his child.
When he found Jesus, he asked Him to come see his son, and heal him.
Instead of going to him, Jesus healed him with His words.
“Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. (John 4:50)

There was no awesome wondrous display, no amazing vision,
no angels appearing, but simply the word of Jesus.
The nobleman didn’t question Jesus, ask for an explanation,
or plead with Him to come see his son – he simply trusted Him.

His son was restored and his trust and confidence in the Lord increased.
If he had not trusted the words of Jesus, then doubts would have probably
occupied his thoughts and his ‘complete’ trust could have become a ‘partial’ trust.
But his attitude was, “Jesus said it, I believe Him, and that’s enough for me”.

This is a great example of faith in action, when compete trust in the Lord exists.
His faith in the Lord was not weakened by the shadows of doubt.
True faith accepts the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible.
‘Doubt’ is the antithesis of ‘faith’.

Doubt sees obstacles; faith sees hope.
Doubt sees the gloom of the darkest nights; faith sees the joy of the light of day.
Doubt is fearful of taking a step; faith confidently takes new steps.
Doubt questions belief in God; faith says with self-assurance, “I believe!”

ACTION:
Consider faith to be similar to a muscle.
If it is not exercised, then it will become dormant,
but the more it is used, the stronger it becomes.
We prove our compete trust in the Lord when we surrender to,
and obey Him, even when it doesn’t make sense.

Take tithing for instance.
God doesn’t suggest that we tithe, but commands us to give to Him.
Does He need our tithe? Of course not!
Then why would He command us to give to Him?

He gives us a chance to prove our faith and love through our obedience.
It is also our opportunity to strengthen our faith
by discovering and realizing that we can trust His Word as truth.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.
Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the
floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room
enough to store it. (Malachi 3:10)

Doubt causes us to interpret this verse as financial rewards
(which might be a part of it), but faith assures and convinces
us that God’s blessings encompass so much more than that.
God has the capacity to bless us in ways we could never imagine.

Doubt tries to convince us that obeying God
is a huge mistake which doesn’t make sense,
but faith tells us that complete trust in Him means trusting His Words
(in the same manner as the nobleman whose son was ill).

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times when I have doubted You,
when I have not trusted You, and when I have chosen to believe
something other than what You say. Create in me a complete trust in
You which will help me confidently obey Your commands and Your
plans for me, even when I don’t understand. Strengthen by belief and
forgive me for my unbelief. Help me to embrace the opportunities You
give me to prove to myself the depth and sincerity of my faith in You.”

blog: UTVOLWOODY.WORDPRESS.COM