Skip to main content

Faith in What?

“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” Jude 3

Faith is essential for our salvation. But faith in what? Jude reminds us that faith is a noun and not just a verb. He is referring to a body of truth, not just the exercise of belief. Just because someone claims to believe in a god, or is faithful in the practice of their religion whatever that religion may be, does not mean that they are saved. It is faith in the true God that saves.

I have watched too many people enter into abusive or deceitful relationships. When warned by their friends that this is not healthy for them, that the track record of their boyfriend or girlfriend clearly shows it will lead to a painful end, the inevitable response is, “Not with me. They love me. It will be different with me.” They are deceived by a misguided belief. Rather than look at the “body of truth” about this person, they believe a lie. And they pay a painful price.

God’s track record and story is well documented. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We have a foundation of faith, the testimony and revelation once entrusted to us. And it is that truth, that faith, we must contend for against all deceptions and falsehoods.

Prayer Focus: Lord, it seems so easy for us to be deceived. We focus on the amount of our faith rather than the object of our faith. Help me today to be sure of what I believe, not just that I believe. Thank You for being the Way, the Truth and the Life for us today.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Storyteller

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” Acts 1:8-9 These are the last words Jesus speaks to his Apostles just before ascending into heaven. Not what they were expecting. They were wondering when Jesus was going to set up His Kingdom on earth. As He was ascending into heaven He reveals we are the ones to accomplish the task. Jesus’ departure is not desertion; it is a commission to be the storytellers of truth to the rest of the world. Frequently, we look at this scripture in relationship to our life. We perceive Jerusalem as our own community, Judea as our city, Samaria as our country and the ends of the earth as the world. Christ informed the apostles they will have the power of the Holy Spirit to reach these people. Notice the word “and...” Jesus didn’t say...
1 comment
Read more

The Way We Pray

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 What brings answered prayer in a Christian’s life? Do you ever feel that you pray and God is silent or that you grow weary in your prayer life because it seems that God isn’t answering your heart’s desires? Could it be that many times it is because of the way we are praying? This passage of Scripture goes on to say, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Taking God’s yoke on ourselves is a picture of an animal having a harness around its neck and can’t move to the right or left but only where the farmer is leading. It may seem restrictive to see God in that same way, but He wants us to follow Him looking straight ahead and keeping our eyes focused on Him and His purposes. It keeps us from getting sidetracked in our Christian walk. Then, our praying becomes asking Him for things He is desiring for us and those aro...
Post a Comment
Read more

Loving My Neighbor

“…Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 19:19 Jesus taught us to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Also in the gospel of Matthew, He said this, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” It is interesting that Jesus says that this is the sum of what the Law and the Prophets have to say. This is saying that the Old Testament speaks of love for our neighbor and putting others before ourselves. This is not just a New Testament teaching. Galatians also says the same thing. “The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” There are Old Testament verses that speak to this, but much of the time it is implied. The Law teaches us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and after that to love our neighbor as ourself. That is a high calling. After our love for God, we are to love our neighbor. Sometimes this is easy and other times not so much. But, God doesn’t say to...
Post a Comment
Read more