In the Christian world, there are few words more important to the disciple’s daily walk than the word faith. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith is at the very core of a Christian’s hope and enables them…us, to walk confidently in the promises of God. So crucial is this faith, that the writer of Hebrews would also say, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him…” Hebrews 11:6). So today we take a moment and reflect on how faith works in our lives.
If you were to look up the word faith, you may come across the following meaning, complete trust or confidence in someone or something. If you were to look up the Greek word often translated faith in our bibles, you would read something like this, to think to be true: to be persuaded of; to credit, place confidence in. As John will bring out in his lesson today, we exhibit this idea of faith on a daily basis. People fly in planes, drive their cars, get in elevators and the list goes on and on. Each one of these actions displays a certain kind of faith: faith that someone knows what they are doing, that some device will work and so on. Simply put, faith and trust are intimately woven together in our day to day lives, the same way it is to be with our walk with God.
Although the word trust is synonymous for faith, there can be a subtle difference between the two. In John 12:42, we find that “even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.” They believed but found themselves reluctant to take the next step. Why? Could it be as simple as trust? Remember, faith involves complete trust and confidence which in turn should resonate in our lives through the things we do.
As I close out this article, I am thankful to John for stirring within me a desire to look at my faith, examine it if you will. I know what I believe and in whom I believe. Yet I also know that even in the midst of professed conviction, I sometimes don’t exhibit the side of faith which is called trust. I can relate to those rulers who were reluctant to stand boldly for Christ, no matter what may result from it. It is with this awareness that I can pray and should pray, “Lord, increase my faith.” May the love of God that is rich in mercy and grace, empower you this day to walk with Him with the kind of faith that pleases Him.
Dennis
