You see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that there is a God and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. ~Hebrews 11:6, nlt We've heard so much good and bad teaching regarding faith in the last few decades (just between you and me, that Word-faith sort of jive makes me wanna hurl), but I do want to say that faith is still necessary to approach the Lord. It takes faith—that unique bridge of relational trust in the Lord—to walk in the Spirit, to serve others right and to witness.
Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? —James 2:22
With faith in Christ like we expressed when we were saved, let's so behave and walk each day.. dealing appropriately with all that comes our way. —kVs
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. —Colossians 2:6
Do you mind if I have some questions? On what or on whom do you base your faith? What are you trusting in for your future well being? Is it on the report that someone else has told you ..that God wants to do for or through you in this life? Is it on what you have seen the Lord do for another person who prayed? Is it on the righteous walk that your parents or grandparents have with God? Is it on what your friends might think and say about God being fair, loving, unfair or cruel? Has it been placed on perhaps what a medical doctor has written in his final report about you ..or on their personal recommendation for your treatment? Is it on what you think would be in the best interest of all those involved? Have you let a minister or so called "holy man" determine where you should put your faith ..independent of the Word of God?
I say put your faith in the Bible Jesus alone for He already paid the full price for you to come into right relationship with the Father. Don't put it in religion, or in yourself, or in a guru or in an apparently good organization.. or even in faith plus religious works that are so called meritorious.
Join hands, then, brothers n sisters of the faith, whatever your race may be; Who serves my Father as a son is surely kin to me. —Oxenham
The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. —Luke 18:27
God, give me the faith of a little child who trusts so implicitly,
Who simply and gladly believes Thy Word,
and never would in some wrong way question Thee. —Showerman
Whatever (and I don't mean that in the cynical sense of the term here..), you and I must pray in faith to the one living God through Christ, or our prayers will not be pleasing to the Lord. If your faith ..as you express and apply it in prayer or meditation.. is merely based on something other than on what is biblical, then your so-called faith will be non-effectual. Unlike the Samaritans did in Bible times, we are called to know and walk in the truth by faith.
But if your faith is applied in accordance with God's specific promises as found in the Bible ..that He has given to us via the people who penned these promises in Scripture.. then your prayers will not be left hanging on a shaky quaky ground.
Your faith applied will indeed hit the mark so to speak!
Listen, we don't have to be perfect or ultra-knowledgeable to apply our faith correctly (though increasing in knowledge of all the counsels of God through all 66 books is extremely beneficial when we don't allow it to make us prideful, self-reliant or prayerless), but we do need to be candid, sincere and reverent regarding this. We do need to sow to the Spirit daily and walk in holy fear with right motives ..so that no besetting sins of any kind can block, impede, hinder or creep in to our lives to set up camp ..to our family's hurt.
So practically speaking, Kurt, what should I do about faith today?
Do this.. crack the Book and ask God to give you a promise from His Word on which you can pray in faith.. believing. Put your trust fully in Christ!
