Playing church

 

2 Corinthians 1:24 "Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand."

 

Many are the events of our life that would be unbearable without the help and support of our families, friends and sometimes even strangers. All of use from time to time need to be lifted up and strengthened through words and deeds of kindness from others. Yet I firmly believe that our success or failure in those times of need rest largely upon the strength of our faith in our God. We often sing, "Faith Is The Victory That Overcomes The World". I am convinced today that faith is that substance, that undergirding power that motivates the Christian's entire being. Often as we pray, we ask God to increase our faith and that is a most proper petition to make of him (Luke 17:5). However, we must understand that there will be no miracle involved here, no direct operation of the Holy Spirit to increase our faith. We learn from Rom 10:17 that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Then James tells us to be doers of the word and not hearers only (James 1:22). It follows then that our faith will increase only in proportion to our zeal and enthusiasm in studying God's word (2 Tim. 2:15, 1 Pet. 2:2, Heb. 5:12-14) and acting on that word. There must be a dedicated effort on our part  to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour (2 Pet. 3:18, 2 Pet. 1:5-10).

 

There are many common place things that test the quantity and quality of our faith. Every day we are led to a stream to drink and show what we are and whether we are in earnest about spiritual things. My friends, we show our spiritual state, we exhibit to all those around us what kind of faith we have not only by what we say but also by what we do (James 2:14-24, Gal. 6:10, Gal. 6:1-2, Phil. 4:8, 1 Ti. 4:12, 16).

 

Reflecting back over the years spent as a preacher, elder or just a member of the Lord's church, I have concluded that there are many who simply "play" at being religious. Jobs, careers, families, recreation, amusements are allowed to crowd God out of their lives. O, the faith of many shines brightly on Sunday morning but it dims considerably following the final "amen" at the morning worship service. It does seem that there are those who have just enough faith to make them miserable. One of the thrilling stories of the Old Testament is that of Gideon (Judges 7). Gideon began with an army of 10,000 men but we learn quickly that 9,700 of those men were just tagging along without any sense of an obligation as a soldier. They were there but their heart was not in it. He was left with 300 men filled with faith in the cause they were fighting for and willing to stake their lives on that cause. I wonder today, are we soldiers of the cross or are we "taggers" Each of us must answer for our own self (2 Cor. 13:5). As my faith grows each day, my trust in my God grows and as a result my view of the future and what it holds is clear and bright (Rev. 14:13).

 

I pray each of us will do as 1 cor. 16:13 admonishes, "…stand fast in the faith…" I urge you to think seriously and apply the words of Matt. 9:29 to your faith. May we ever be thankful to God who gives us the victory (1 Cor. 15:57).

 

Charles Hicks