The concept of faith is woven through the pages of Scripture and is essential to a personal relationship with God. In fact, “without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV). It is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9) and not only is it necessary for salvation it is part of our daily walk and warfare as believers (Ephesians 6:16).
Contrary to popular Christian opinion, the Bible neither exhorts us to have childlike faith nor does it tell us to believe as children believe. The idea that we are to have childlike faith is an incorrect inference based on several passages of Scripture. “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Mark 10:14-15; Luke 18:15-17 NIV).
These passages don’t tell us what receiving the kingdom of God like a little child means so it is wrongly assumed to be referring to the faith of a child. In Matthew 18:2-4 Jesus spells out what He means. “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Our goal as believers is not childlike faith. Instead it is to grow to be “mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:4).
Learning is lifelong, and ignorance is not bliss. Just because you don’t have formal education doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Education comes from all sorts of places. Seek it out, don’t settle for anything less.
Starting is always easier than finishing, which is why follow through is a reflection of character. Besides, God doesn't quit on us, so why should we give up when the going gets tough?
My friend, if your days have been difficult and nights have been like a tunnel, dark and long, find your comfort in God’s sovereign control and everlasting love. Your Saviour knows your breaking point.
Someone has said faith is like calories—you can’t see them, but you can certainly see the results! Living a deep and consistent walk with Christ requires your time and attention, every day.
As citizens of heaven living on earth, we’re living in time but made for eternity. And as the old song, “This World Is Not My Home,” by J.R. Baxter goes, “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through…. And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”
Want to know how to walk in triumph in a world that's lost its way? In this Video Insight, Chuck Swindoll gives three essentials to help you walk well.
The Bible contains wisdom and truth for life in its commands, teaching, and examples so that we can live God-honouring obedient lives.
No one knows what tomorrow will bring. But take the uncertainty of tomorrow as an opportunity to strengthen your faith—realize your future isn’t in your hands; it’s in God’s. He is with you always.
Taking God seriously is not only having a sensitive heart towards Him. It’s an inner craving to know Him more. Do you hunger and thirst after God?
The reality is that it is not an either/or issue of trusting God to act or us acting alone. It is a both/and issue of trusting fully and acting wisely according to God’s revealed will in Scripture.
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