Meaningful Faith ~ Episode 257
Has your faith matured through the years to hit the realm of “meaningful faith?” In this podcast, we discuss how our faith needs to be our own and for the right reasons.
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Do you remember the first time you realized there was a God and He loved you? Perhaps you are a new Christian or, like me, you’ve been raised in a church since infancy, and faith is all you know. Even if that is the case and you are a long-time Christian, there had to be a moment, time or day that you realized that the only person you would serve in this life is God, then family and everything else. Joshua 24:15 (Read on air)
Today is no different than the past when this verse was written. The gods today and not those of the Amorites; the gods are entertainment, business, distractions, gossip, the internet, and the associated dangers. These distractions pull on us each day. Not to mention our normal, everyday work, chores, and caring for our family.
Our faith may start as the faith of our parents or the faith of a friend or Pastor who introduced us to Christ, but at some point, that faith needs to be incorporated into our own faith, a faith that is strong and steadfast. In other words, meaningful faith. It takes getting to know the Lord and realizing all He has done for us.
The Old Testament, the beginning of the world, and salvation history tell us over and over again about God’s love, justice, and forgiveness. And instead of a grateful nation (the nation of Israel), all that the Almighty received in return was disobedience. Over and over again, the people complained, rebelled, and did not follow God’s laws and ordinances. These laws were created for a purpose, and when they were broken (for example, the men of Israel intermarrying with people who worshipped idols), the men of Israel began worshipping these pagan idols as well. The Almighty knows our weaknesses and warns us to help prevent disaster, yet the people did it their way.
When we know the Lord Jesus as our personal Savior, we want to please Him and follow His will for our life. Just like a beloved family member or friend, you would do anything to make them happy, to help out to the best of your ability. The same with God.
When you go to church and worship God, you get to know Him and follow His will for your life. However, if you are only doing these things, essentially going through the motions, this is not meaningful faith. Meaningful faith is knowing there is no other option in your life.
In the book of John 6 – there are so many nuggets of truth for our faith – for deep and meaningful faith. I am going to read you some of the verses from this book, and please go back and read it in its entirety so that your faith may be deepened:
John 6:30-71 -(Read on air) John 6:30-34
So, first, we read that the Jews challenge Jesus to give them a sign to prove He was the one true God, just as the Israelites, their forefathers, while in the desert, were given “manna” miraculous food to eat as they wandered in exile, and we know how that story turned out. Those first people who were saved from slavery in Egypt and were to go to the promised land continued to rebel against the Almighty even when instructed by the prophet Moses under the direction of God! Jesus goes on to explain…
John 6:35-40
Let’s read that again John 6:40 … For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the son and believes in him should have eternal life…
Friends, do we believe, truly believe? Do we test God and want signs and wonders? Are we like the Jews, believing only what we can see or only believing if our prayers are answered? Is our faith lukewarm? Do we grumble like the Jews who did not want to take Jesus literally? Jesus said He was the bread of life and that if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. (In eternity.) He said it over and over again in the verses, and then he looked at his disciples, who answered in verse 60, “This is a hard saying. Who can listen to it?” Jesus answered in this way…
John 6:63-66 (Read on air.) And here is the question. When the teachings get tough, when temptation is too great when we feel like we can not go one more day, will we give up? Will we go away? And finally, the punch line, if you will, the punch line is why I brought these scriptures to your attention for the following.
This … this is it, “Lord, to who shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.” Amen and Amen.
The second person of the Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ, specifically taught us how we could have everlasting life – and the people, to his face, shunned him! Friends, let us pray and hope we would be different if we had lived at that time and walked those streets. We are walking very difficult streets in the culture wars, in dealing with the world around us. Some of us are living difficult personal lives, yet we must always keep our eyes on God. That is true and meaningful faith – belief in the unseen yet merciful and loving God!
Let us pray never to fail the Lord – to be there without question, excuse, or compromise. To keep the Sabbath holy, to recognize sin as sin, and to sin no more!
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