"By Faith"

 ^“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV)

In the verses preceding this verse, Paul speaks about our life in the world and our desire to be with God. In verse 4, Paul speaks of our desire to be clothed more and more in Christ so that the world around us, the temptations, and our failures would be swallowed up, no longer to burden us. I know I often feel this way and must remind myself that I have a long way to go, but Christ called me and I came.

It is faith, the very faith Paul speaks of in verse seven. If we are burdened, whatever the burden may be, we must remain fixed on Christ. If we try to fix what we see before us, we are often wrong and can make matters worse. The world around us blinds us. Think about it, the world is operating in the reverse of all that is sound, moral, and holy. This opposite path leads away from Christ, not to Him.

However, we cannot go to the market and buy a little more faith, can we? No, we are given faith by the grace of Christ. Paul wrote: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8). We reveal our faith to God by mouth, in our prayers, actions, and our hearts. We may not know our own hearts; I certainly do not, but God does. It is the trust we have in Christ that strengthens us. For if God keeps us in the world, it is His will, yet we know that if we leave this world, we will be at home, our real home in eternity with Christ, a place of eternal peace and joy. It is a win-win for the Christian. I heard a saying that I hold on to: “I have my ticket, I know my destination, I am just not ready to get on the train yet.” God will tell me when it is time to get on that train that goes to Him.

One can only receive faith from God’s grace. As Paul wrote in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Think about your own conversion. Someone or a few people gave you the world. One may have planted the seed, which may have remained dormant for a while until another watered it. It was then that God gave you the grace to understand the word, and voila, you received faith.

Like that seed, faith continues to grow. When we surround ourselves with other believers, we are not alone in our journey. Their presence and their shared faith strengthen us. When we attend worship and properly prepare ourselves beforehand to receive God's word, our faith grows. The Holy Spirit reveals new understandings. Many times, we have read a verse or verses multiple times until we finally read it and see what was hidden in the words for the first time. “How could I have missed this?” We miss it because we are not ready for it to be revealed. The Spirit knows exactly when to reveal truths to us, helping to sanctify us further.

Do not walk with blinders on; walk with eyes wide open, fix your gaze on our Savior. No matter the burden, trial, or tribulation, know that God has already resolved it. “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14 ESV). Remember, God's timing is perfect. Help others who lack faith. If they are already believers, remind them of the assurance we have in Christ Jesus. If they do not know the Lord, give them the Word; you will either be planting or watering. Both are necessary for them to receive faith by grace. Be the blessing God wants you to be.

Grace and Peace!