Struggling with Our Faith - Part 1

When we struggle with our faith in God, it does not happen because Jesus is inadequate evidence for our conviction. Jesus is actually the very foundation of our Christian faith. 

Other religions diminish His importance in human history and call Him a good teacher, but refuse to give Him the elevated status as Emmanuel – God with us in the flesh (1 John 2:23).

The facts surrounding His miracles are proof enough that He is who He claimed to be. However, when we add His resurrection from the dead and His appearing to people for 40 days before His ascension (Acts 1:3; Luke 24:50-53), we have to conclude that He is God.

Christianity recognizes Jesus in His rightful place for all time. Jesus existed before He was born as a baby on the earth (John 8:58). He is the physical manifestation of God in human form (John 14:9).

If we take Jesus’ words for who He was, we have to believe that He is God. He actually told people that He came from above and that He is not from this world (John 8:23, 17:16). He shared in our Father’s glory prior to his short human existence (John 6:62, 17:5).
 

Prayer:

Father God, teach us to discern the voice of Your Spirit within us, so we can avoid living according to the dictates of our flesh or the devil. We revel in both the glory and humility of Christ who abides within us (John 14:6). We want to follow His example and live in the center of Your will, rather than according to our human desires and impulses.

Thought for the Day:

Jesus existed as God prior to His advent on this earth; yet, He humbled Himself as a servant and a sacrifice for our sins. - Philippians 2:6-8

Not of Our Self

Our human plans often operate on impulses, and are otherwise the results of us reasoning things out with our finite mind. However, we are never quite able, apart from Christ, to come to understand the complete truth about life (2 Timothy 3:6-7). Deep thinkers, mystics, scientists, authors and poets all try to pinpoint the origin and meaning of life, but they reject the truth of God’s Word. Then they come up with theories they cannot prove, even by their own laws. The wisdom and power of life come only from the crucified Christ (1 Corinthians 23-24).

We cannot boast in our own knowledge or abilities (1 Corinthians 4:7; 5:6). Neither can we dwell on the negative aspects of our life. We look above and beyond everything to Jesus who is our wisdom and our joy (John 15:11). In order to live daily in God’s joy, we develop the habit of making Jesus the center of our focus. We submit to God’s Spirit as He crucifies our carnal humanity, and we exalt Christ’s divinity within us (Galatians 2:20). Once we reach this place of dying to our self, our soul truly prospers (1 Corinthians 15:31; 3 John 1:2).

We share in Christ’s peace and glory as we face our cross each day (Hebrews 12:2-3). We continually and totally depend upon, confide in and seek the Lord concerning all of our thoughts, feelings, instincts and leadings. We never rely on our own suspicions or perceptions. In everything we do, we identify the leading of God’s Spirit first, we are acquainted with His Word about the issues or events, and we submit our will to His (Proverbs 3:5-6). Then, God guides us and straightens out any uphill paths that may be in our way.

We never trust in our self or entertain an exalted opinion of our self (Ephesians 2:8-10). We respect the Lord and walk away from anything that we sense is evil. All Biblical advice brings health to our body and nourishment to our bones (Proverbs 3:7-8). When we choose the will of God over our own will and we grow steadily in our union with Christ, we grow more like Him with each passing day (2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 John 3:2). Jesus is all we need (Colossians 3:11).

God gives us His wisdom when we lack understanding (James 1:5). If we feel inferior or inadequate, He reminds us that we are children of the King, and He will never leave us or forsake us (Ephesians 2:6; Hebrews 13:5; Philippians 4:13). If Satan plagues us with guilt over our past, Jesus removes condemnation for those who trust in Him (Romans 8:1). In our times of trouble, we cast our cares on Him who cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). Christ in us gives us peace in exchange for our worries (Philippians 4:6, 7; 1 Peter 5:7; John 14:27).

Prayer:
Father God, You will receive all the glory for the creation, salvation and glorification of all the Saints on that glorious day when we see You face to face. All we have to give You apart from what Christ works in our life, is the love, praise and glory due Your name. Our difficulties set the stage for Your miracles. The more impossible the solution, the greater the miracle; but with You all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

 

Thought for the Day:

If we humble our self, God will not need to humiliate us. – Matthew 21:44