Your Daily Devotional for September 20, 2007

 

September 20,  2007

 

 

The Definition of Faith

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. 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 appear."

 

Hebrews 11:1-3

 

 

Helen Keller once said, "Dark as my path may seem to others, I carry a magic light in my heart. Faith is a spiritual searchlight illuminating the way. Through sinister doubts, I walk unafraid, into the presence of the Lord."

 

Living the Christian life without faith is like driving a car with no oil, washing clothes with no soap, or playing half-back in the Super Bowl with no helmet or pads. Without a life of biblical faith, many Christians today struggle with discouragement, worry, fear, and hurt. Not only must we live with faith, but with our faith placed in God! A misplaced faith can many times be just as damaging as having no faith at all! Today, we will see the definition of true faith in God.

 

Webster's dictionary has defined faith as "belief that does not rest in logic; confident belief in the truth." Having faith means trusting God even when we can't logically figure out the outcome. It means not worrying about a problem or situation but giving it over to God and letting Him handle it.

 

A person with faith believes God even when they don't see the outcome. As humans, we have become accustomed to trying to figure out the results before doing something. We like to test drive a car, sample food, and try out new products before we buy them. There is nothing wrong with wanting to test something before we buy it, but we must not assume that thinking when it comes to faith. We must trust God with the results and choose to follow Him without knowing the outcome.

 

A person with faith also acts upon their faith. Abraham Lincoln once said, "Faith is not believing God can, but God will." Anyone can believe that God is able to meet their needs or answer their prayers, but it takes true faith to act on the belief. It takes a person with real faith to say, "God, I may not understand why or how, but I know that you are in control and I will keep on going even though I don't see how You will provide." True faith is not only willing to trust God, but is willing to step forward and continue serving Him as well.

 

A person of faith remains faithful to God's Word. Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." God's Word is our strength during these times of faith. It is not always easy to step out by faith and trust God, but as we remain faithful to reading God's Word and praying, God will give us the strength we need to continue serving Him.

 

There were once two men on a boat deck looking out to sea one night. It was a dark and dreary night and the one man pointed out the thick fog. But while the one focused on the fog, the other man pointed out a ship in the distance. The difference was that the second man was looking through a telescope. Even so, God's Word is our telescope that allows us see through the fog of uncertainty and step out by faith.

 

God has done some of His greatest work through believers who have stepped out by faith and trusted Him. If we will have true faith in our lives, we must believe God even when we don't understand, be willing to act upon our faith, and be faithful to His Word.

 

Are you exhibiting true faith in your life today? Have you decided to trust God or are you still focusing on the fog? God wants to work in your life today, yet He can't if you are not trusting Him. Spend time with God now and commit to following Him in faith. Take that next step and trust Him for the outcome. You will never regret fully trusting God with your life.

 

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

Ecclesiastes 4-6 • 2 Corinthians 12

 

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