What is Important about Faith?
Robert Schaetzle
“For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him.” (Romans 12:3 RSV)
Faith is a gift from God that every believer receives according to God’s good measure. It’s not something we manipulate or manufacture through our own resources, therefore we do not expect God to follow our desires – but we desire that we should follow His. God’s gift of faith also lessens our anxiety over matters we cannot control, opening the door to understanding how God leads in our lives, so we can follow Him in faith without question.
Following Jesus on the “difficult road” He spoke of in the book of Matthew is a matter of faith (Matthew 7:13-14). Thankfully, we learn to lean on Jesus as He illuminates the ‘dark and difficult alleys’ of our lives. It’s true the gate is narrow and the road is difficult at times, but the Way is never dark or doubtful when Jesus walks beside us, leading the way.
The Apostle Paul was very clear about faith and the importance of letting go of selfishness or personal gain as a believer. He wanted Christ to have total preeminence in his life. He wrote:
“…Because of [Jesus] I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ — the righteousness from God based on faith.” (Philippians 3:8-9 CSB)
What we are about every day is walking with our Lord, taking hold of his hand, and by faith, recognizing God equips us with His resources throughout all of life’s experiences — good or evil.
“Eternal life does not begin with death; it begins with faith.” — Samuel Shoemaker
Robert writes for publishers serving in a sharing and caring ministry. Contact
