Faith Is Work

Jesus answered,

“The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”

John 6:29

Sometimes, maintaining faith in God is work. How can an educated person in her right mind believe in a virgin birth? I do believe, but sometimes I wonder why I let myself believe this “foolishness” (1 Corinthians 1:25.).

A pastor described the difference between believers & nonbelievers like this. Imagine that we all are standing at the shore, and looking at a rickety bridge and wondering whether it will be strong enough to get us across the water.

Believers are the ones who start walking across the bridge. While we’re walking, we might wonder, “How is this rickety thing strong enough to hold me up?” Yet, it does, so we keep walking.

Nonbelievers stay on the shore – doubting and criticizing the strength of the bridge, and sometimes actively discouraging other people from stepping on it.

James (2:14-26) said that faith without works is dead; but faith IS work, and the most important work we can do.

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 6:40

Mercy Every Morning

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Some pastors give the subtle impression that God is doing something new and unprecedented to break strongholds in our lives and deliver us from all sorts of troubles.  It’s a special opportunity only available for a short period of time.  We only know about the opportunity because of we’re under the teaching of an especially anointed pastor, who has his antennae up and can “sense” a special movement of God.  Sometimes we risk missing out if we don’t “sow a seed” immediately.  They always talk about how God is “about” to do something.  Don’t miss it!

Anytime God is made to sound like a salesman with an opportunity that’s only available while supplies last, something is amiss.  His word says that His Mercies are new every morning.  God is Jehovah Jireh, Comforter, and Counselor.  That “special opportunity” that we’ve heard about is not rare.  It’s available to us every day – all day.

 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns.

He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering

instead of his son.

So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide.

And to this day it is said,

“On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

Genesis 22:13-14