Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10:17 NIV
Each morning, as I open my web browser, I’m bombarded by news stories from various news outlets. One feed cycles through some stories every few seconds. However, there are also different stories about the same event from multiple sources: CNN, CBS, Evening Standard, Fox News—you get the idea. Each of these stories presents a slightly different telling of the event. They may be told with intentional or unintentional bias–that’s a discussion for another day. The point I’m endeavoring to make is how do we establish faith in a single source written by what we know are biased individuals rushing to beat each other in a competently compressed news cycle?
To have faith in a message, we need to be able to trust the source. We trust the Word of God in the Bible because we trust the Author, the divine giver of the sacred text. From the opening pages of Genesis through the closing of Revelation, the common theme is God’s goodness and how He, despite our rebellion, has responded with grace and redemption.
Here are a few attributes of God we hear in those pages that help strengthen our faith in the Author. By becoming emulators–faithful followers, we grow in our faith, making the abstract real.
Love: Love is the foundation of our faith. Jesus emphasized loving God and others as the greatest commandment. We must pray and study God's Word to understand His love for us fully. Then, demonstrate love through actions by serving and caring for others.
Joy: Rejoice in the Lord always, even during challenging times. Happiness isn't based on circumstances but on our relationship with Jesus. Focus on eternal joy rather than temporary problems.
Peace: Seek inner peace by trusting God. The peace Jesus offers surpasses human understanding. Read the Bible, especially the passages about peace, and pray for God's peace to guard our hearts and minds.
Patience: Trust God's timing. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. When faced with difficulties, wait on God and seek His guidance. Remember that God's plans are perfect, even when they don't align with our expectations.
Kindness: Show kindness to others. Acts of kindness reflect God's character. Be compassionate, forgiving, and considerate. Look for opportunities to bless people around you.
Goodness: Pursue moral excellence. God is good, and we are called to imitate Him. Live a life of integrity, honesty, and virtue. Seek to do good in all your interactions.
Faithfulness: Be faithful to God; he is loyal to us. Trust His promises and remain steadfast in your commitment to follow Jesus. Hold onto our faith and rely on God's faith even during trials.
Gentleness: Cultivate a gentle spirit. Treat others with kindness and humility. Avoid harshness or judgment. Let our words and actions reflect Christ's gentleness.
Self-Control: Exercise self-discipline. The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome temptations and make wise choices. Pray for self-control and rely on God's strength.
Our faith grows as we become actively engaged in God's Word; we grow in our spiritual relationship with God by regularly reading the Bible, hearing the Word expounded in church, and studying it with others.
Gracious and Loving Father, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude and awe.
Thank You for the gift of Your Word, the Bible, which is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. We recognize that faith is not something we can manufacture on our own. It is a precious gift that You bestow upon us as we open our hearts to Your truth.
We acknowledge that faith comes by hearing—by listening attentively to Your Word. We pray for an increase in our faith. Open our ears to hear Your voice as we read Scripture, study its depths, and listen to sermons and teachings. May our hearts be receptive to Christ's life-transforming message.
We confess any doubts or unbelief that may hinder our faith. Replace our doubts with unwavering trust in You. Strengthen our faith, Lord so that we can stand firm in the face of trials, uncertainties, and challenges.
We pray for those who have not yet heard the gospel. May Your Word reach their ears, penetrate their hearts, and ignite faith. Use us as vessels to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.
Thank You, Lord, for the faith-building journey we are on. May Your Word continue to shape, guide, and draw us closer to You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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