MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE How do we get faith? For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as GOD HAS DEALT TO EACH ONE A MEASURE OF FAITH. (Romans 12:3 NKJV). So we are each given a measure of faith, from Adam all the way through to whomever the last person born on this earth might be! But that measure, or amount, of faith is like the Single cell from which a human develops. Whether the egg or the sperm, on their own they are useless, they wither and die! So just as one needs to be added to the other, so something must happen to our faith or it dies. So what are we to add to our measure of faith to ensure it grows? But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.. (2 Peter 1:5-8 NKJV). So, by using this recipe for Christian living, we will see growth, not only in faith, but in our total Christ-like character. Will others see the difference as you grow in faith? That is entirely up to you. The Bible tells us quite clearly that For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:26 NKJV). This doesnt mean that everyone who does good works has faith; there are many non-believers who abound in good works in their community homeless shelters or food banks, on behalf of abused animals, to help starving children around the world, or various other philanthropic acts of kindness, but not all have faith in the Almighty! However, those of us with confidence in God which has grown and blossomed, will be moved with compassion, just as Jesus was when He saw the crowds around Him. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. (Matthew 14:14 NKJV). His actions demonstrated His compassion. In the same way, following Jesus example, we are told: What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.. (James 2:14-17 NKJV). Just because non-believers also do good works, does not negate the requirement placed on us to follow Christs example. Works cannot save us, as Martin Luther, the great Reformer, realized. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV). We are not saved through our works; we cannot do enough good works to earn a place in heaven! But works are the evidence of our faith just as fruit on a tree tells us what type of tree it is! My Jeanne
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 16:49:33 +0000
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