"STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH"

When our ears and hearts hear the Word of God, the Holy Spirit strenghtens our faith. Christian faith is trust in the forgiveness of sins that was earned for us by Jesus Christ when He died on the cross. And that message was confirmed when our triumphant Lord rose from the tomb!

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17

As dedicated Christians we seek to grow in knowledge of God's Word. We want to know more about our great, wonderful God. What are His glorious qualities? What are His infinite thoughts toward us? We want to grow in faith. Confident faith brings to our possession and enjoyment all the priceless treasures for which Christ has purchased us.

"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." 2Peter 1:16

Detractors of the Christian faith often dismiss it as merely pious myths, having nothing to do with reality. They forget that the very first propagators of the faith were eyewitnesses of the miraculous events that they proclaimed: the miracles of Christ, His transfiguration, His death, His post-resurrection appearances to the Eleven, an appearance to more than 5,000 at one time, and finally His visible ascension into heaven. Not myths, but facts! Not dreams, but reality! The writers of the New Testament letters stress this again and again. John, who was closest to the Savior, writes:

"THAT which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life."

This is what the apostles declared to us. Our faith, then, is based on the very words and works of Christ, transmitted by reliable witnesses who both saw and heard the precious Gospel as it unfolded before their very eyes. It was to them that Christ said: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Thank God, we have received the Gospel from those whose eyes had seen the events they recorded!

"And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Mark 9:24

The above words, spoken by a frantic father, speak to the conflict in which Christians often find themselves. It is the struggle between belief and unbelief, between faith and doubt. So long as a person is able to pray, confessing his faith to God and asking Him for help to overcome unbelief, he is still a Christian. His faith, though shaken, is maintaining the upper hand. The direction our life takes, whether toward greater faith or toward unbelief, depends in large measure on whom we want to serve ~ the true God or ourselves. When we allow God to be central, grow in the Word, set Christian service as the goal of living, and in all things seek first the kingdom of God, then we are going the way of faith. When we stumble because our faith is unsteady and we are not ready to place God first in our life, we need to pray what this distraught father prayed. God hears such a prayer.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."
Ephesians 2:8

Faith in Christ is no doubt the most important subject in the Bible. The Scriptures are brimming with references to it. One Chapter, Hebrews 11, is devoted entirely to faith. There faith is defined as being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. More simply, faith may be said to be the "receiving hand" that reaches out by the Holy Spirit's power to grasp God's gift of forgiveness and eternal life in Christ Jesus. Faith is also the "gripping hand" that holds fast to God's promises no matter how deterring the obstacles or how desperate the situation. It is thrilling to read in the Bible about all that faith can do!

Application: We must eat to strengthen our body. We must hear God's Word and receive His Holy Meal to strengthen our soul. It is only the Word of God that nourishes our faith and is the sustenance of life eternal.

Today's Devotion: "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do not appear." Hebrews 11:3

God Bless You All as you hear God's Word, so that your faith in Jesus Christ, the only Savior, might be strengthened.