Your Daily Devotional for June 4, 2006

June 4, 2006

 

Maturing in Faith

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?”

 

1 Thessalonians 3:9-10

 

Recorded in our text today is a prayer of the Apostle Paul for the church at Thessalonica. It is a prayer for spiritual growth and maturity; it is a prayer for a growing faith. As I consider all of the new opportunities that await us in our local church, I realize that none of these things are as important as our need to grow spiritually. Paul’s prayer for the church of Thessalonica was that this church would grow, not necessarily in number, but in their heart for God. Paul was praying specifically that their faith would mature. What are some things that we need to remember about a maturing faith?

 

A maturing faith will be tested. James 1:3-4 says, “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” With every trying of our faith, there is a purpose. God tests our faith, not to destroy it, but to develop it. Much more evident than the development of a church property should be the development of our hearts and the maturing of our faith. When I think of what God did yesterday, last month, last year, or even ten years ago, I get excited, but I realize that God wants to do more. He wants our faith to mature.

 

A maturing faith must also be exercised. The church of Thessalonica had begun in faith. In fact, Paul said, in 1 Thessalonians 1:3 “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.” Whether it’s in Honduras or America, any work that is pleasing to God is always a work of faith. Even though the church of Thessalonica had begun in faith, Paul was reminding them that they must continue to grow in that faith.

 

Through nearly every year of our ministry, I have found that building programs exercise my faith in an incredible way. I was thinking about the many trials we encountered during a past construction of one auditorium: the general contractor went bankrupt; his employees were coming to us for money because they were not getting paid; and the superintendent stole our stamped blueprints and held them hostage somewhere in Southern California. We had no money, no contractor, and no blueprints.

 

I can remember the many restless nights spent in prayer as we tried to keep the construction going and as we had to call the police to locate our blueprints. I realize now that God was testing our faith before we could enjoy our new auditorium. He was giving us an opportunity to exercise and mature our faith.

 

After our faith is tested, we are able to testify that God is able to bring us through. Psalm 44:1 says, “We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.” I look forward to being able to share with my children and my grandchildren everything that God has done for me.

 

Is there anything lacking in your faith? If you are honest, your answer will be a resounding, “Yes!” Pray that God would mature your faith. Be patient through the times of testing and continue to put your faith to work. If you have sacrificed, sacrifice greater; if you have given, give more; if you have served, serve more selflessly, and allow God to grow your faith in a great way!

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