Heb
11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that
cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek him.
We, who know the
Lord, are aware that we must have faith if we are to please God. What
is the faith that pleases God? Is it a passive or an active faith? Is
it something we say or something we do? Is it a combination of both?
Can it be real faith if all we do is say words?
When we read
Hebrews chapter eleven, where faith is described, we find that every
person whose faith is mentioned did something to show their faith. So
by putting their faith into action it pleased God and they were
justified and received the promises of God. By this we can understand
that faith is something we say and do.
Many of us have
faith in our faith. It is based on how we feel at the time. If we feel
good our faith is strong but if we don't feel good our faith is weak. I
am not only speaking of how we feel physically but spiritually as well.
If we have been going to church regularly, reading the bible, praying
and doing good things we feel good spiritually and seem to have more
faith that God will hear and answer. This faith is based on our
abilities and not on God. We are to have no confidence in our fleshly
abilities to please God.
Real faith is
based on God and Him alone. We come to God the Father by Jesus Christ
and His finished work. When we approach God by any other way we are not
in true faith. Our faith must be based on Him and Him alone! There is
no other foundation for faith. Here is what Jesus had to say about
this. Luke 17:10 So likewise ye,
when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say,
We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to
do.
Everything we
receive from God is a gift. We can do nothing to earn His gifts.
Salvation is a gift received by faith through grace revealed by Jesus
Christ. Before we received Christ we were dead; the dead can do nothing
to please God or earn anything from Him. Anything we receive from God
is by this and this alone. We don't merit anything from God. Once we
have received from God now we have a responsibility to walk in what we
have received.
In my early walk
with the Lord I noticed some that received the answer to their prayers
much more often than others. Some of these who received where not
living as close to the Lord as others who didn't receive. Then I
realized that some were coming with faith in the Lord and some had
faith in their selves and how they lived. Beloved, that is not faith in
the Lord but faith in them selves and their faith.
Have faith in God and in Him alone. Mark
11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye
pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. This
requires faith that believes God has heard and grants the request.
Remember we show our faith by what we say and by what we do in response
to what God has said and done. How do you approach God? Faith based on
God will not be up and down, but constant.
Lord
God, help us to lay down religious sayings and actions and be real with
You. Help us to get our faith anchored on You and You alone. Cleanse us
of everything that doesn't honor You. We ask and believe we receive in
the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
