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

The Son's Light

 

Have you ever sat in the sun, soaking up the balmy rays and receiving the vitamins, nutrients and minerals, which God provides for us through this giant orb of fire? We feel the heat warming us through our skin. This same sun penetrates through the ocean too, for miles below the surface, giving the plants the light they need to grow.

Jesus is the Son of God and He provides for us spiritually just as the sun functions physically. He dwells within us, penetrates every area of our life and gives us the nutrients we need to live spiritually healthy lives in this morally deficient environment. If we, by faith, are willing to trust in Him with our whole heart as He directs our steps, He responds through us in each situation, which we face (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Everything in life requires faith. Even something as simple as subconsciously sitting down in a chair, requires that we have the faith that it will hold us up. Therefore, it is easy to put that same faith in God, who does all things wondrously in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The proof that God lives in our life is the activity of His Holy Spirit in our body, soul and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

We experience His presence in our life each moment of the day, as we converse with Him about His love and guidance for us. People see Christ in us through His love in our eyes and our Godly actions toward them (Matthew 5:16; Colossians 1:27). God places His fruit in our soul and we live in contentment with all that He provides for us each day (Galatians 5:22-23; Matthew 6:11-13; Philippians 4:11-13).

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for delivering us from Satan's objectives for us, as well as from our bondage to this world. We are so blessed to live as Your slaves instead. Thank You that sin and death have no more control over us, since Jesus overcame them for us by His resurrection (Romans 6:9; 2 Timothy 1:10). This is how we are able to live fruitful and fulfilled lives for Your honor and glory (Romans 6:22). Keep us as the apple of Your eye and lead us by Your Spirit to do the works You created us to do (Zechariah 2:8; Ephesians 2:10).

Thought for the Day:

We know that God is alive, because we live, move and have our being in Him. - Acts 17:28

Life Everlasting

Biblical characters give us an example of living by a tangible faith, which provides for us what we hope to receive. Faith also provides us with proof, even of what we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1-2). Faith is essential for living a victorious Christian life, because without it, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). We walk in faith, which produces obedience; we seek the will of God each moment of the day; we live in His Spirit, and God rewards us with His blessings.

We do not live our life to please other people, or according to their insistence or persuasion in our life, but to please God alone (Galatians 1:10). We are bondservants of Christ; and we can trust Him to provide for us and to keep us safely tucked under the shelter of His wings (Proverbs 29:25). We are approved by God to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He calls us to speak what is pleasing to Him instead of what is pleasing to mankind (1 Thessalonians 2:4; John 12:43).

Satan and the world attempt to deceive us through the philosophy of men, which is nothing more than vain conceit and empty deceit. This philosophy is fashioned from the principles of the devil, the world and the flesh (Colossians 2:8). This is why God encourages us to focus our mind on eternal and spiritual concepts rather than on the ideas pertaining to this world (Colossians 3:2). As we seek God Kingdom and holiness with our whole heart, He will provide everything we need to live in this life (Matthew 6:33).

Each generation produces enemies of the cross of Christ. We weep over the deception they are under, as well as the lies they spread as truth; because they, and everyone who believes them, will end in destruction. However, our citizenship is in heaven, even while we remain on this earth. Ultimately, when Jesus appears, our human body, soul and spirit will transform into the glorious replica of Christ Himself, because of His power residing in us (Philippians 3:17-21).

Right now, we groan with aches and pains in this earthly habitation. We long for God’s Kingdom to come on earth, as it already is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). Paul gave us exciting news, however, when He explained that our earthly body is just like a canvas tent. When this tent collapses, we have a home waiting for us, which was made without hands and which will last for eternity. When we see Jesus, His life will swallow up our mortality, and we will dwell in the eternal resting place, which God prepared for us (2 Corinthians 5:1-5).

Prayer:

Father God, when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ we will receive rewards for both the good and bad, which we have done (2 Corinthians 5:6-10). Therefore, it is important for us to live a life, which is pleasing to You right now. As long as we live on this earth, we are separated from living with You; however, if we walk by faith rather than by what we see in the natural realm, Your Spirit in us allows us to live in Your presence now and forevermore.

Thought for the Day:

God calls us to walk by faith, rather than by what we discern with our human senses (2 Corinthians 5:7), as we eagerly wait for the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

What to do with Unbelief

Human beings have a hard time believing something by faith. If we can’t prove it with our senses, then we do not believe it at all. Unbelief is a problem that stems from the beginning of time. Moses feared the people would not believe him when he told them God sent him to deliver them. It took ten plagues to finally convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go (Exodus 4:1-9). God actually had to speak from a thick cloud before the people would believe Moses (Exodus 19:9).

Even after that, the Israelites continually rebelled against God and Moses. They actually provoked God by their unbelief in spite of the myriad of signs God provided for them (Numbers 14:11). All through the historical Biblical books, as well as throughout the ages of time, the story remains the same. People will not believe the Lord, His leaders or His prophets  (Deuteronomy 1:31, 2 Kings 17:14; 2 Chronicles 20:20; Matthew 21:32). In some cases they even disdained the men of God (Luke 24:25).

Human beings tend to believe deceivers and liars before they will give up their stubborn pride and trust in God (Jeremiah 12:6; Habakkuk 1:5; Matthew 24:23). Even though Jesus gave the people a multitude of signs and wonders, they wanted more (Matthew 27:42; Mark 15:32; Luke 22:67). Half of Jesus’ nature was God, and they still did not believe His words of Truth. Jesus even laid down His own life for us all, but people everywhere still refuse to believe (John 3:12, 10:18; Luke 16:31).

Even if we do believe the Truth of God’s Word, then the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of sin, the works of the flesh and Satan’s hordes all try to steal the Word of faith right out of our hearts (Luke 8:12-13). No man-made religion can offer the total salvation and unconditional love that Jesus can. His is the only belief system that provides eternal life and comes to us as a free gift, requiring no self-effort at all (Isaiah 43:10; Ephesians 2:8-10). There is no God like our Lord (1 Kings 8:23; 1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 7: 22 ; 1 Chronicles 17: 20; 2 Chronicles 6:14; Jeremiah 10:6; Isaiah 45:5).

Even nature proves God exists with every sunrise, sunset and everything in between (Romans 1:20); yet people refuse to credit God for these daily miracles. In His lifetime, Jesus did encounter a few people who believed in Him (Matthew 9:28). Many more believed His disciples and came to healing faith in Christ (Mark 1:15). If we honestly seek Him, Jesus enables anyone with doubts in their heart to believe His truth.

If we determine to believe, Jesus will help our unbelief (Mark 9:24; Mark 11:23-24). All God asks us to do is to sincerely confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and to totally trust in our heart that God raised Him from the dead. This leads us to salvation in body, soul and spirit (Romans 10:9). Signs follow believers. In Jesus’ name, we will cast out devils; heal the sick; raise the dead and speak with new tongues (Mark 16:17). If we trust in and believe in Christ, He makes our broken life whole. Christ in us will then influence for righteousness all the true seekers of God who come into our life (Luke 8:50; John 1:7).

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, the unbelief of sinners does not make belief in You ineffective. Their pride and arrogance does not nullify the truth of Your existence and Your sacrifice on Calvary’s cross (Romans 3:3). We can be of good cheer, knowing that what You say will come to pass (Acts 27:25). Remind us to preach Your Word in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2). No one can call on You, if they do not believe; and no one can believe, if they do not have the opportunity to listen; and no one will hear, if we do not proclaim Your truth (Romans 10:14).

Thought for the Day:

Everything is possible for anyone who believes. – Mark 9:23

Who Loves You?

Read: 1 John 4:8-11

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” - Psalm 51:10-12

God is head over heals in love with you. God’s love is a spiritual, physical, mental and emotional “high”. Human love is merely a shadow of His love. The natural order of the universe proves to us that God loves us. If the earth’s axis tilted a degree in any direction, if the stars fell from the sky, if a large solar storm erupted on the sun, if the oceans exceeded their boundaries, if animals no longer had an innate fear of man, if all the molten lava in the earth erupted at once, we would all die. God’s hand, keeping the earth in perfect balance, keeps us all living and breathing and existing on planet earth.

Jesus loves you more than a pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45). He sold all He had, relinquished his kingly status, forsook the glories of heaven, and for 33 whole years he lived on this earth. Then, at the peak of His manhood, He purchased us back from Satan for the Father by suffering the horrendous death on Calvary’s Cross. He gave His life so that you and I could live as God's adopted children, joint heirs with Jesus to receive all that the Father owns. God actually chose you, as He chose me, and adopted you to be His beloved child.  

With God’s love, we do not need another person in our life in order to feel loved, affirmed and validated. In fact, God proved His love for us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might live eternally through Him. This is real, authentic love: we did not earn or deserve God’s love, but He loved us first and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

God constantly draws my attention to the fact that He is touching me with evidences of His love through a variety of means. He reveals His love in a bird’s outstretched wings, in a perfect rose, in the lady bug landing on my arm, in a double rainbow, in the flower growing through a crack in the sidewalk, in the shapes of the clouds, in the waves of the sea, in the seasons of the year, in the red cardinal or bluebird chirping through my open window, in the snow of the winter, in the cool breeze and the gentle rain of spring and in the warm sunshine of summer. All through the day, I have learned to watch for the unexpected ways that God tells me, "I love you!"

Escaping a devistating calamity is another occassion when we feel the love of God. When we see His hand protecting us from sudden and sure destruction and danger, our hearts swell with incredible gratitude and love for God. To realize that God actually intervened for you makes you feel so precious, cared about and loved. At times like these we feel His love surrounding us and keeping us safe.

When my heart is open to God’s love, I can feel it pouring over me like a waterfall. I am drenched with His love. Even the cells in my body are full of His love. I feel like I am wrapped in a soft, fluffy blanket of love. God’s love gives me such a sense of security. Unsurpassed peace and joy flood my soul – my mind, my will and my emotions. His love flows through me and out of me to everyone He brings into contact with me.

God gives us the gift of new life each and every day. Just waking up is proof that He loves us. We often take for granted things like air to breath and eyes to see; but each of these small miracles is evidence to us that God loves us. All through the day, He sends people, events and natural wonders to bless us.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for giving Your life on the cross as a ransom to pay the debts we owe. Help us to walk worthy of Your love as we live in Your Spirit.

Thought for the Day:

God spends every second of His time showering us with abundant love.

(PS. What if you do not feel God's love? Stay tuned for the next blog.)

Fairytale or Reality

Read: Acts 19:8-10

“As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything." - Ecclesiastes 11:5 (NKJV)

Paul appealed to the people in his day, and quite successfully convinced many of them about God’s reality. Others refused to believe the Gospel, and some even mocked it. The same is true today. Since scientists cannot examine God under a microscope they explain Him away. They have no proof of the origin of electricity, the wind or magnetism either; yet, they accept these assumptions as facts. With God, however, since they cannot prove Him scientifically, they dismiss Him as a fairytale. This is not consistent, nor is it logical.

Not only can we see the handiwork of God in our universe, we can also see the consequences of His work in a Believer’s life. The miscreant transforms into a productive citizen, the selfish woman considers her family first, and the wandering husband spends his time at home every night.

I thank God that He is not finite and measurable; but that He dwells in infinity. I would not want to serve a God, which I can categorize, allegorize and automatize. I much prefer serving a God that I can apotheosize.

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, Your Spirit creates a difference in our thoughts, words, and actions. Till the soil in the lives of those around us, so that we can successfully plant the seed of Your truth.

Thought For The Day ~ As long as Believers live in our universe, there is absolute proof that God is real!