Do you realize that you use your faith every day? Yes, faith is for everyday life – now faith. Dealing with your fellow man often demands faith. Faith is required to turn the other cheek when you feel the need to retaliate. Faith is required to love the unlovable – to love your neighbor as yourself. Faith is required to forgive others. The disciples became so perplexed when Jesus commanded them to forgive, not just seven times but seventy times seven, that they told Him, “Make our faith greater.” (Luke 17:3-5).
Jesus went on to explain to them that they did not need greater faith or an increase of faith, but they needed to exercise the faith they already had.
“If you had faith as big as a mustard seed…” – Luke 17:6
Jesus was showing them that their mustard-seed-sized faith has great potential, what was required was for them to put their faith into action. Just as Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Rahab, Ruth, David, Esther, and others acted upon their faith, we too, like the disciples are urged to put our faith into action.
The faith that you possess is enough. It grows stronger and more efficient when it’s put to use. In Luke 17:7-10, Jesus says that you are the master of your faith – faith is your servant and it must be put to work for you.
Hearing the Word brings a revelation of faith (Romans 10:17), it feeds your faith and your faith grows. Understanding the Word gives you knowledge of the faith you have already been given.
There is only one faith and it’s from God (Ephesians 4:5). You already have it inside you and it’s meant to be used now.
So, stop praying to get faith...that is in violation of the Word. Instead, pray for a deeper understanding of the faith you already have in Christ (Philemon 1:6).
Amen †
Now Faith ©2013 Shelley Johnson
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