Proverbs 20:11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
I was talking with a young man who had been raised in a Christian family and had attended church most of his life. He had just now, in his adult life, received Christ as his Saviour. We were all blessed and rejoiced with him in his personal salvation with the Lord, Jesus.
As we talked he wanted to find an easy way to grow his spiritual faith. I said the only way I know of faith growing within our hearts is through the word of God. I explained that faith was exercised through the word of God, and as he read God’s word and applied it to his life his faith would grow. Rom. 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The young man seemed disappointed because he was looking for an easier way to have a full measure of faith now, this minute. He wanted some kind of, “Get faith quick deal.” He wanted all the benefits of faith without using his faith. Hag.1:7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
My admonition to this Innocent impatient Christian was that Christianity is not always an easy walk. Our walk with Christ sometimes involves hard decisions like forgiving those who have hurt us or sacrificing something we want for the sake of someone else. Giving toward a need when we are in need ourselves. Matt. 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
All these actions take faith and maturity in the faith to accomplish these everyday decisions. Yes, there are great and wonderful times of victory as well, but there is no app that we can download or short-cut to a higher game level that will give us immediate faith in what Christ has called us into.
This young man, like the rest of us, will have to become personally involved with his personal Lord and Savior in a personal everyday relationship. He will have to grow in faith as the Lord leads him in his own life’s calling. Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
The good news for this new born-again saint and the rest of us is, that the moment we even start to send our thoughts in the Lord’s direction, He is here. James 4:8a Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. The Bible says that God will teach us through His word, Jesus. Heb. 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.
There is excellent provision for our life’s walk with God. We are given guidance, forgiveness, healing, prosperity, correction, love, and everything we will ever need to become the person of God that He saw us to be when He thought of us for the first time. Jer. 1:5a Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou came forth out of the womb I sanctified thee.
The Lord has put a new song in our hearts, and what is in our hearts will come out of our mouths. Psalm 40:3a He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. If we want mature faith coming out of our hearts, then we will have to sow faith, by His word, into our lives so our faith can grow in the grace of our Lord. 1John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
Faith will grow in us through our belief in the word of God and the word of God will produce faith within us as we act on His word. No matter what we do to draw closer to God, we will have to know His word and there is no getting around it. A heartless effort will only produce an insipid faith.
The encouraging part of growing in the Lord Jesus is that His grace sustains us, and helps us do our best with the faith we have. His priority is our spiritual well being and His timing in our lives can be trusted. Eccl. 3:11a He hath made every thing beautiful in his time.
So, what I practice personally, I advise all impatient Christians to open the word of God every day and be patiently transformed by the word of His love. Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. Amen!
Finish Strong
Jeremiah 12:5 If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan? Finish strong, or...
As for me I started reading and meditating on the word of God every day. This gives me a fresh feeding of faith everyday and thus faith starts to work stronger. As I quoted in this blog.
"So, what I practice personally, I advise all impatient Christians to open the word of God every day and be patiently transformed by the word of His love."
how do i stop using lazy faith?
Love it! All believe but in what? Some trust God but to do what? Some say they have faith, but its their righteous deeds that confirms their faith in the truth.