"If you have faith as a mustard seed . . . nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20)
We have the idea that God rewards us for our faith, and it may be so in the initial stages. But we do not earn anything through faith- faith brings us into the right relationship with God and gives Him His opportunity to work. Yet God frequently has to knock the bottom out of your experience as His saint to get you in a direct contact with Himself. God wants you to understand that it is a Life of faith, not a life of emotional enjoyment of His blessings. The beginning of your life of faith was very narrow and intense, centered around a small amount of experience that had as much emotion as faith in it, and it was full of light and sweetness. Then God withdrew His conscious blessings to teach you to "Walk by faith" (2 Corinthians 5:7). And you are worth much more to Him now then you were in your days of conscious delight with your thrilling testimony.
Faith by its very nature must be tested and tried. And the real trial of faith is not what we find it difficult to trust God, but that God's character must be proven as trustworthy in our own minds. Faith being worked out into reality must experience times of unbroken isolation. Never confuse the trial of faith with the ordinary discipline of life, because a great deal of what we call the trial of faith is the inevitable result of being alive. Faith, as the Bible teaches it, is faith in God coming against everything that contradicts Him- a faith that says, "I will remain true to God's character whatever He may do." The highest and greatest expression of faith in the whole Bible is- "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15).
Devo from My Utmost for his Highest
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7 comments:
This devo does bring things into perspective for me. Reminds me of the difference of just being joyful about God and having unwavering faith. The mustard seed analogy is also quite good as well. It isn't having faith and getting something big from it, its having faith and growing into something big. Some people might normally think the first way, that if they continue their faith they'll be rewarded from it. Instead of what I think we should be doing, growing into something big and spiritual that is rewarding in itself. Just a few thoughts,
-drew rbk(3/5) (criteria dependant, day dependant etc >_>)
May the Lord bless this word and may we all remember to have faith in the Lord at all times.
Richard Chan Rbk(6)
i read it.
rbk(6)
not gonna lie, i think i skimmed it. but i get the gist of it!
- Jono rbk(5)
read it
rbk (6)
I think it's really true when it mentions that,
".. the real trial of faith is not when we find it difficult to trust God, but that God's character must be proven as trustworthy in our own minds."
blind faith is no good. But faith through knowing and understanding God's character.. now that's power.
- Brian Yee -> rbk(6)
p.s. I got attacked really hard yesteday, I'll share about it today.
i read it,
in comment to brian's "blind faith" comment. I think we, ourselves ARE following Christ because of blind faith. I dont think any of us have actually seen Jesus face to face (like literally speaking, able to touch him). Reminds me of Thomas, and Jesus' reply on his doubting, "Blessed are those who believe and have not yet seen" (i dont think its the exact words, but its off the top fo my head at the moment)
-jacky rbk(6)
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