Faith Walk

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6, ESV)

I have the privilege of fellowshipping with a wonderful brother in the Lord who adds Hebrews 11:6 to the bottom of each of his emails.  Thanks to the work of the Holy Spirit, this passage of Scripture is not only one of my “memory verses”, but it’s become one of my favorite go-to Scriptures when I feel like the strength of my faith is being challenged by the weight of my sin. 

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary provides several definitions of the word “faith”:

1.      Allegiance to duty or a person

2.      Belief and trust in and loyalty to God

3.      Something that is believed especially with strong conviction

The second definition is by far the best.  However, the Biblical description of faith digs so much deeper.  Hebrews 11:1-3 provides readers with a clear and concise definition of what true faith in almighty God looks like:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  For by it the people of old received their commendation.   By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Chapter 11 of Hebrews further provides readers with examples of the men and women in Scripture who exercised Godly faith.  As Richard Davis, a writer for Ligonier Ministries, wrote:  “Hebrews 11 is often called the "Hall of Heroes." But the true hero of this chapter is God who gives faith to His own, by which the smallest of men and women have done great things in His strength.”

Faith is one of God’s many gifts, and it is given to us freely by His grace as a means of salvation in the finished works of the Lord Jesus Christ.  (Ephesians 2:8-9).   

Faith is a step of obedience.  Romans 1:5-6 tells us that through Jesus Christ, we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

Faith is an ongoing spiritual exercise.  Every day and every moment, we are to trust God with every ounce of our being, and to not trust in our finite understanding of things.  When we acknowledge God in all situations and circumstances, He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).  

Faith in the Lord is so much more than belief, trust, and loyalty.  It is taking God at His Word (2 Timothy 3:16).  It is knowing we are never without hope because faith lifts us out of our circumstances (Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Peter 1:3).  Faith is knowing that everything will work out for our good and for God’s glory (Romans 8:28).  But most importantly, faith gives us peace with God through the finished work of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). 

To put it plainly, faith in God pleases God.  Whether you have faith that can move mountains or faith the size of a mustard seed, faith is saying “yes” to God and surrendering your life to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Without faith, you remain an enemy of God and you are bound for Hell – eternally separated from God.  The Lord Jesus Christ has made it possible for you to spend eternity in Heaven with Him.  He did all of the heavy lifting.  He committed the ultimate sacrifice by dying on the cross for your sins, taking on your punishment.  Through faith, He will place His righteousness upon you, place His Holy Spirit in you, and welcome you into the family of faith.  Faith leads to salvation, which is the gift that lasts for all eternity.  Don’t let another day pass without freely receiving it. 

Peace and grace.