Monday: The Life of Faith
Read Genesis 22:1-12. What does this story tell us about the reality of Abraham’s faith?
The life of faith is not a one-time event. We don’t just express faith in a powerful way one time, and thus prove that we are, indeed, loyal and faithful Christians living by grace and covered by the blood of Christ.
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For example, the religious world still after thousands of years remains astonished at the act of faith displayed by Abraham with Isaac on Mount Moriah (Genesis 22). Yet, this act of faith wasn’t something that Abraham just conjured up when he needed it. His life of faithfulness and obedience beforehand was what enabled him to do as he did. Had he often been unfaithful before this event, he never would have passed the test as he did. There is no question, either, that a man with that kind of faith surely lived it out after the event as well.
The point is that the faith of a steward is not a one-time act either. Over time, it will either grow deeper and stronger or shallower and weaker, depending upon how the one who claims that faith exercises it.
Read Hebrews 12:2. What does this tell us about the source of our faith and how to have faith?
Our only recourse as faithful stewards is to look “unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2, NKJV). The word “finisher” is used only in this one instance in the New Testament and also can be translated as “perfecter.” It means that Jesus is intent on bringing our faith to maturity and completeness (Heb. 6:1, 2). Thus, faith, the life of faith, is a dynamic experience: it grows, it matures, and it increases.
| In what ways have you seen your faith grow and mature over time? Or has it? |
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True. Abraham lived that life. He didn't just build riches for himself and for his own family as you people do today. When i was homeless, you had a spare room, or even an extra house just sitting there empty, waiting for your children or your grandchildren to come and inherit the place. But, they have no respect because you don't love that Way that our Heavenly Father would have you to. Our Wise and Holy Father is no respecter of men... maybe for this same reason that our children don't respect us...i don't consider myself any better. Perhaps far worse. But, i only mention this in hopes that you and others would give our blessed Creator Jehovah more thought than that of self. My cry for all human kind, for so many souls to realize that our Father is far above who people give Him credit for
It is true. if you want good health, you must feed well your body. so faith does not just appear abruptly, we must train for it. Amen
Well, there is more to having good health than just feeding well: Trusting in Divine Power is way more important to good health than feeding well.
Abraham faith led him do things which will be regarded as abnormal in the human eye.He obeyed God and Left for an unknown place,He had faith that he will be given a son,was ready to sacrifice his own son..all these manifest his unwavering faith in God.Tithing by faith is also a way of showing our confidence and trust in our God.
I love God!! Through being his stewardess he is working in my life!!! That is faith... Abraham, the father of Faith is a great example to us today!! I only imagine in today's life if my father was Abraham and I was Isaac, I could deny completely to be offered and could argue with him or ran away!! But Isaac was obedient ( one of the marks of a steward)... I pray that our lives of faith be dynamic and not still because we are to look at Jesus the author and finisher of our faith,then we will live a Life of faith... God help us and we stay blessed! Amen
(FAITH)-a strong and powerful word. I believe in it more because even when i'm sick the faith i have in God heals me. And i want to tell anybody out there reading that "faith can move mountains".
We love to quote Matt 17:20 in discussions on faith:
But I would like to hear about mountain moving experiences relevant to this discussion on stewardship. Christianity is (or should be) very practical.
...I have heard the expression, keep the faith brother, keep the faith. I have found faith depends on my relationship with Christ, time spent in prayer, time in His word, and time meditating on Him. As I do this my faith gains, if I don't, faith wains. Reciting it is necessary, living it is vital. Once you get into the groove, spending time with Him becomes no more a chore than eating. I have never felt eating as a chore...yes as we fill our spiritial stomachs we also feel satisfied. We are blessed when we hunger and thirst after righteousness. I believe the filling we are promised is faith, a strong faith in God. Matthew 5:6.
Someone said tithing is an act of faith as in Abraham sacrifice, however, I not sure about that statement....It appears in 2018 that the rich are still getting richer, and the poor are ask to make the sacrifice..
Monetary gain is ultimately not much of a deal. Steve Jobs, when he was sick and knew he did not have long to live famously quoted, "There is no point in being the richest person in the cemetery!"
Being truly rich is about contribution to life and not accumulation of wealth, power, or social capital. Christianity is about giving and sharing.
The tithe is the Lord's. Anybody who keeps it for himself or herself is a robber
Reading it from the NIV to me, you will not get the total spiritual significance of this text ( Gen.22:1-12 ) In the KJV you get the whole salvation story told. On the third day, after the sacrifice was slain, when Jesus the Christ arose, our hope was made complete to enter the land afar off when He returns.( vs 4,5 ). ( vs8 )God will provide Himself ( Gahar: cast Himself down)(as) a Lamb. According to the Hebrew word Ra'ah, Abraham is told His Son " look, open your eyes and see, gain understanding and get acquainted" what God is about to do. By faith, Abraham acted,
because he learned to trust God. As Christian Steward of faith, we need to get to the point where our faith in God transcends reason and knowledge.
Transcends or increases reason and knowledge? " Come let us reason together..." If we go beyond reason then we can be fooled by the adversary
Powerful!!
how do I get to the point where my faith transcends reason and knowledge? what does that mean?
Having faith like a child. If Daddy says it, just do it. He (Jesus Christ) knows best. No reasoning no knowledge.
Perhaps we need to think about this relationship between faith and reason just to make sure we understand it.
Here is an illustration that may help. Instrument-rated pilots knows how to fly their planes when they has no visual input (eg it is dark or cloudy). They go through a period of training so that when visual input is not available, they can trust the readings from their instruments and make decisions based on those readings. That trust is built on training, experience and reasoning. It is not blind faith.
As the lesson study points out, Abraham's actions of faith were not just spur of the moment, "I will follow God blindly" decisions. He had lived a lifetime of experiencing God's leading when the lights were on metaphorically speaking, so when he had to follow God's leading in the dark, he already had that trust in him.
Perhaps we need to get to the place where faith transforms reason and knowledge.
Faith is relational. Reason and knowledge without relationship are a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal. Great for getting attention, but not much else.