“I had rather exercise faith than know the definition thereof” is a paraphrase of Thomas a Kempis. That statement can stir the brain if one allows time to contemplate it. Yes, we do have a brief definition of faith in the Bible, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” Hebrews 11:1. Aside from that functional definition, Biblical references to “faith” are usually found in stories of active living, cause and effect, rather than theoretical or philosophical descriptions. We can measure faith by asking these questions: 1. Am I diligent in obeying the commands of the Father?; 2. Am I fully devoted to love the Lord my God?; 3. Am I making a conscious, active choice to “die daily?”
Diligence. A tough word. Seriously, after a commute and a 9-5 day with maybe a few hours of overtime, shouldn't I have “down-time” and “me-time” and “relaxation” and “entertainment?” How about good old rest? Why be diligent? Proverbs 4:23 speaks to that. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Wow, life is such a gift. Whether working or relaxing or resting, may God grant us diligence to “keep (our) hearts” for His glory!
Devotion. That's easier. “Do” devotions and get on with the day, right? How does one “do” devotions? For those who have not learned Christianese, “devotions” is that regular quiet time of the day which a believer spends in communing with the Father through prayer and the Word. This time alone with God is foundational for faith in action, and may be the single biggest indicator of how your relationship is with God and your fellow man. Funny how that works, because it is also not too visible to others. Unless one asks for accountability in this area or someone asks how the devotional life is going, a believer can go for a long time without a daily schedule of reading the Bible and praying. But stumbling through life without a daily connection to the Father through prayer and the Word is like the dust rattle of a slow dry drowning. The dust of that drowning scatters discouragement, desolation, and discontent. May God draw our hearts to him in fervent devotion, so His love can flow out of us in “rivers of living water!”
Death. Not much to explain here. Die to self. If people accuse me of being in denial about my past or even about my present, that's not all bad. Being in denial is good if it is on God's terms, because our Lord Jesus Christ said “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” As we live a life of faith that works, let us be diligent to love the Lord and love our neighbor, and put “SELF” to death to the glory of God!
Diligence. A tough word. Seriously, after a commute and a 9-5 day with maybe a few hours of overtime, shouldn't I have “down-time” and “me-time” and “relaxation” and “entertainment?” How about good old rest? Why be diligent? Proverbs 4:23 speaks to that. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Wow, life is such a gift. Whether working or relaxing or resting, may God grant us diligence to “keep (our) hearts” for His glory!
Devotion. That's easier. “Do” devotions and get on with the day, right? How does one “do” devotions? For those who have not learned Christianese, “devotions” is that regular quiet time of the day which a believer spends in communing with the Father through prayer and the Word. This time alone with God is foundational for faith in action, and may be the single biggest indicator of how your relationship is with God and your fellow man. Funny how that works, because it is also not too visible to others. Unless one asks for accountability in this area or someone asks how the devotional life is going, a believer can go for a long time without a daily schedule of reading the Bible and praying. But stumbling through life without a daily connection to the Father through prayer and the Word is like the dust rattle of a slow dry drowning. The dust of that drowning scatters discouragement, desolation, and discontent. May God draw our hearts to him in fervent devotion, so His love can flow out of us in “rivers of living water!”
Death. Not much to explain here. Die to self. If people accuse me of being in denial about my past or even about my present, that's not all bad. Being in denial is good if it is on God's terms, because our Lord Jesus Christ said “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” As we live a life of faith that works, let us be diligent to love the Lord and love our neighbor, and put “SELF” to death to the glory of God!
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