faith
noun
1.
confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.
2.
belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.
3.
belief in God or the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims.
4.
belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty.
5.
a system of religious belief: the Christian faith; the Jewish faith
A couple of years ago, I noticed that there were several songs on contemporary Christian radio stations that had the line, "Faith without action is dead''. It comes from a verse in James:
I've been pondering this verse for quite some time. I know that the obvious definition is that I should not only talk the talk, but walk the walk. My life should reflect my beliefs. Still, I thought there was something deeper. I want to truly know how to live my life with faith as a verb. How do you make faith an action word, but steer clear of letting the action become the faith?
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
This morning, in my quiet time, I read the story from Matthew 14:13-21
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
In this, I noticed that even when it seemed impossible, even when his friends doubted and even discouraged him, Jesus was confident in his calling. He gave thanks for what the Lord had provided, even when it didn't seem like it was enough to get the job done. Then, he didn't wait for the food to multiply, he instructed the disciples to start handing it out. That is when it multiplied.
Maybe that is what I've been looking for. Maybe in life, we should look before we leap, but in faith we just look up, give thanks and leap, even when the to seems impossible and our friends are trying to talk us out of it.
This also reminded me of the Israelites. After spending 40 years wandering in the wilderness, they are ready to receive the prize, the land promised to them. All that is left is one obstacle...the Jordan River. I suppose I thought of this as a stream in my head, but that is not what it was! It was a flowing river, at flood stage! The following passage comes from Joshua 3: 12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”
14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
God didn't tell the Israelites to stand back while He parted the waters. He told them to put faith into action and take the first step, then watch Him perform the miracle! I personally believe that one of the reasons He asks for us to work this way is so that "no one can boast". If God always provided ahead of time everything we needed for the things He has called us to, we might just receive some of the glory that belongs to God. People might say, "Wow! Did you just see what he/she did?" But when God tells us to leap before we look, everyone watching will see God in action and even we will be sure to say, "Wow! Did you just see what God did?" There will be no doubt! This goes with the saying, "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called."
Immediately following the story of the feeding of the 5,000 is the story of Peter walking on water with Jesus.
Jesus Walks on the Water
Matthew 14:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”29 “Come,” he said.Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
I love that this comes right after the story about the feeding of 5,000. Peter was walking toward Jesus, focused on his Savior. The moment that he noticed the obstacles and storms around him...the wind and waves...and took his focus off of Jesus, he began to sink. I often wonder what amazing adventures I would get to take part in if my focus was completely on Christ, and not on the storm raging around me. Still, I love that when Peter became afraid, Jesus didn't let him sink. "Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him." What a beautiful Savior that knows what wonderful things await us if we stay focused on Him, but in times of weakness, He hears our cry and IMMEDIATELY reaches out to catch us.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment