Devotion: According To Your Faith

Let us continue with the “snapshot” of you and your faith.  Remember that this snapshot is not meant to be a picture of where you wanted to be with your faith but one that will reveal where you are and where your faith currently stands.  Once you determine where you are, you can determine the course that you need to take to get you where you want to be with your faith and then, then you will be able to determine when you reach your goal.  Previously, we covered “great faith” (Matthew 8:5-10); “little faith” (Matthew 14:22-31); “weak in faith” (Romans 4:17-19); “strong (strengthened) in faith,” (Romans 4:20-21); and “full of faith” (Acts 6:1-5).

FAITH UNFEIGNED (SINCERE FAITH) - Now the end (purpose) of the commandments is charity (love) out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of “faith unfeigned (sincere faith)” (I Timothy 1:5).

SHIPWRECKED FAITH - This charge (command) I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee (previously made concerning you), that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put (rejected) away concerning faith have made (suffered) shipwreck (I Timothy 1:18-19).

FAITH NOT WAVERING (CONSTANT) - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not (without reproach); and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in “faith, nothing wavering (not doubting).”  For he that wavereth (doubts) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord (James 1:5-7).

RICH FAITH - Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world “rich (to be rich in) in faith,” and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him (James 2:5)?

PERFECT FAITH (MATURE or GROWN-UP) - Seest thou how faith wrought (working) with his works, and by works was “faith made perfect (complete)” (James 2:22)?

OVERCOMING FAITH (WORLD) - For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that “overcometh the world, even our faith” (I John 5:4).

EXCEEDINGLY GROWING FAITH - We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet (fitting), because that your “faith groweth exceedingly,” and the charity (love) of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth (II Thessalonians 1:3).

We hope this snapshot has helped you to locate your picture of faith so that you can determine where you truly are with your faith.  From this, we hope that you will know what you need to do and where you need to go to maximize your faith.  If you were able to determine where you are, then you will be able to determine the course that you will need to take in order to get to where you desire to be with your faith.  Finally, we pray that you will exercise your faith so that you can reach your goal, for you have truly been given the measure of faith.  And above all, do not forget to feed your faith, it will need the nourishment in order to grow strong and healthy.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).

Faith comes by “hearing” (listening) and “hearing” (listening) by “the word of God.”  Please note that this does not state that faith comes by praying, it comes by hearing.  We know that prayer changes things but praying for more faith will not get you more faith.  You get all that you are going to get, that measure of faith (Romans 12:3), but what you do with what you are given is entirely up to you.  Your faith must grow in order for you to profit from having it.  Your faith must be developed.  To develop your faith, it must be fed, for nothing grows unless it is fed.  If you feed your faith you may grow up into Him (Ephesians 4:15), grow up in the fullness of your salvation (I Peter 2:2), grow in spiritual strength (grace) and become better acquainted with our Lord (II Peter 3:18).  However, be very careful of what you hear though.  You are surrounded by many things that get into your mind and our heart—things that try to influence you to limit your faith.  Everything in your Christian life depends on and is according to your faith.  Therefore, grow it, develop it, and exercise it; it’s up to you to do it.

Again we pray that our commentary along with the inspirational message will abundantly bless you, greatly inform you, and that you will be the better for having read it.  If blessed by this message, please share so that others may be blessed as well.  Amen.

Enjoy your blessings - KW