LEARNING DAILY

 

Luke 17:5, And the apostles said to the lord, “Increase our faith.”

 

From what I have studied over the years in God’s Word, grace and faith are gifts from God. We are saved and enter into the family of God by His grace. In Romans 13:3, Paul writes that, ”… God has dealt to each one a measure of faith”. The measure of faith is a starting place for every Believer; God gives each of us the same amount of faith. What we do with that faith is really the difference between Believers. I do not see where God gives us different amounts of faith. It is important for each of us to know that faith needs to become more than faith to be saved – faith must become a lifestyle for every Believer.

 

Like the apostles asking for their faith to be increased, many Believers today think they would be better able to live the Christian life God wants them to live if only He would grant them more faith. The notes in the DJSB tells us, “Jesus focused not on the quantity of faith but its character. More faith does not equal greater ability to accomplish, since the Lord is able to accomplish great things with only a grain of genuine faith [the faith the size of a mustard seed]” (Matthew 17:20). When we talk of a measure of faith, it means that every aspect of our life needs to be lived by faith.

 

Can we all agree that we are living in days that are testing each of our faith. Like the apostles we may be asking the Father to increase our own faith. Romans 10:17 states, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Billy Graham has written, “The Bible also teaches that faith will manifest (demonstrate) itself in three ways. It will manifest itself in doctrine (what the Bible actually teaches). It will manifest in worship (communion with God). It will manifest itself in morality (righteous behavior and godly living).” Faith is a voluntary action each of us do by giving up or surrendering our old self-centered life to live the life God wants us to live. He does everything He can to draw us closer to Him by getting us to act on the faith He has already given us.

 

There are all sorts of helps about stages of faith. Let’s be simple and just know our faith grows when we read/study our Bible every day. How can it not when we read about the faith of those people who acted upon their faith and Jesus healed them. Read the Old Testament and see the results when people acted on their faith and the simple people God used to accomplish great things for Him and His kingdom. I challenge you to pray in the faith you have and see how God works on your behalf. Don’t pray and then think your answer was due to something other than God answering you. Put what faith you have into action by stepping out when you need to act on it. Remember each of us has been given the same amount of faith. Act on what you have and see how God uses it; isn’t that the difference between you and the ones you believe have great faith?

 

Paul wrote in his second letter to the Thessalonians, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of everyone of you abounds toward each other.” If your faith is growing, your love will overflow towards others. Your faith grows as you grow in your knowledge of grace and of the Lord Jesus Christ grows. I cannot encourage each of you enough to be reading/studying your Bible daily, praying daily, to be obedient to what you know, and to just live in the faith you have. There can be only one result – the growth of your faith.

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.