The Illumination in the
top left corner is the
copyrighted property of Randy Asplund.
www.randyasplund.com
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"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us."
Hebrews 12:1
 aith can be seen as the foundational Christian virtue because it is faith
that preceedes all other virtues. According to scripture we are saved by faith, thus it is the virtue
necessary to begin the Christian life. Faith is also particularly important to the question of how
we must live since the scripture states both that it is impossible to please God without faith, and
that the just shall live by faith. The question then remains, what is faith?
The biblical definition of faith is "the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things
not seen". While this may seem somewhat vague when we seek practical answers, it does tell us two
very important facts. Faith is both substantive and evident. This means that faith is not abstract.
Faith is not some academic knowledge nor is it a simple mental agreement to a fact. It is much more.
This truth is expressed in the book of James. Here the scriptures tell us that faith is more than just
believing. Even the devil and the fallen angels believe, but they do not have faith. James also tells us
"faith without works is dead". True faith is a force of belief so strong that it compels action in your life.
Faith is a belief so strong that it not only can be, but is the very foundation of your life.
Faith is a basis and motivation for action, but it is also reliance upon God. As with all good things,
we must recognize that we do not manufacture faith. In a way we can choose to have faith, but ultimately, the choice
to "have faith" is simply a choice to rely on God. It is a recognition that everything we need, including faith itself,
flows to us and through us from God. We often times have a false image that we must be great giants of faith, able to lift mountains
with a single prayer, when in reality we would often be better off if we saw ourselves like the man who came to Jesus to heal
his child and said "Lord I believe! Help my unbelief!".
In practical terms these are ways we have faith, or build our faith. First we must recognize that our faith is a gift from
God. Ultimately it is he that grants it and upholds it. After that, as the bible says, faith comes by hearing and hearing by
the word of God. This means that through reading and hearing the word of God, the bible, our faith is nurtured and increased.
It also means that our faith is increased by hearing God's words when we speak to him. Prayer is not only a method of of
communicating requests to God, but also of holding conversation. I do not mean to insinuate that every time we pray, we should
hear the audible voice of God, but God often speaks to us in subtle ways. He speaks to our hearts and to our minds.
In conclusion, the first virtue a Christian must posess is faith. We must choose to have faith, and faith must guide our lives
and our actions. We must recognize that God is the source of our faith and we should ask him to give us faith. In order to strengthen
our faith, we should read the bible often. We should also pray often, expecting to hear from God, and leaving him room to speak.
Faith
Love
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---Because strait is
the gate, and narrow
is the way, which
leadeth unto life, and
few there be that
find it.
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