“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You; Your ways are in their hearts. Passing through the valley of weeping, they will make it a fountain; even the early rain covers with blessings. They go from strength to strength, being seen in Zion before God” – Psalm 84:5-7 (LITV)
Always remember that in life there are what appear to be desert valleys between mountaintops as we travel from glory to glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV) Life isn’t always living on the mountaintops when you are a faithful disciple of Christ. These valleys in life may appear to be bleak and hopeless on the surface. What you see may prepare you for great struggle in your heart. Yet, God may have a fountain of blessing for you even in the valley. Even when Elijah was in danger, God looked after him with provision. (1 Kings 17:2-7 MKJV) God never forgets or neglects those that trust in Him and follow His direction.
When you go through hard times, remember that those hard times will help you to get you where you need to go. Rebuilding life and faith through trial often enables you to better receive what God wants you to have.
Remember to give God praise for what He has done in your life where you are at right now. When you are in the wilderness, even the deepest valley, remember that joy is on its’ way. Times are tough for many on the world scene. You may have no visible means of support. You may have problems with health, employment, family or finances or all of them at once.
“For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 (MKJV)
- Ruth Greene
Dimensions of Faith
Tags: Christian, confidence, deed, faith, fruit, gift, Paul, salvation, seed, spiritual, trust
What does the Apostle Paul tell us when he talks about saving faith in Romans? Christians must be very careful to understand faith as Paul uses the word. Paul ties faith directly to salvation. We don’t have a system of works that is required to earn salvation. If that were true, then faith would simply be one more deed. Paul clearly states that human deeds can never save. (Galatians 2:16)
Instead, faith is a gift from God that is deposited in us. This gift allows God to save. (Ephesians 2:8) That is exactly what He wants to do. God’s mercy and love save rather than the act of faith. When God saves you, He gave you the kernel of faith to begin with as part of His divine mercy. God saves.
He gives us faith relationship with his Son that helps us to become like Him and bear fruit just like His Son did in his earthly ministry so long ago. Through the faith that God planted in us, He carries us from death to life. (John 5:24) Even so, faith is not assumptive. Faith bears fruit that is clearly visible.
When Jesus triumphed over death, He canceled the charges against mankind and opened the way to the Father. (Colossians 2:12-15) Because God is merciful He gives us faith. How tragic if you turn faith into a mere deed and try to develop that faith by yourself by some effort on your own. On the other hand, faith is not permission to do nothing.
You can never come to God through your own faith alone, any more than His people in old Israel could come to God through their sacrifices. Instead, you must accept his gracious offer with thanksgiving and allow Him to grow the seed kernel of faith that He has planted within you.
- Ruth Greene