Faith of Followers

     We have faith everyday.  When you turn the key in your car you have faith that it will start.  When you sit in a chair you have faith that it will hold you up.  When you flip a light switch you have faith that the light will come on.  We have such great faith in little things that are man made.  So where is the faith that God wants from us?  Our faith in God should be much greater and more prominent than the little worldly objects. 

“because of your faith it will happen”  Matt. 9:29
“your faith is great.  Your request is granted.”  Matt. 15: 28
“Your faith has made you well.”  Matt. 9:22

     The above passages show us that having faith is what led to the completion of their requests.  I  would say that they had “Faith of Followers”.  Followers of Christ do not pray weak, superficial, last resort prayers.  They pray with the knowing that God will listen and will reply.  They have the faith and hope that God will reply.  Not always immediate.  But in His time.

     Sometimes after we pray a prayer, it is quiet.  Weeks go by, no reply.  Months, no reply.  Years, and still no reply.  The Lord seems to not be listening.  That’s where the faith comes in again.  We have to have faith that He will listen and He will reply in His own time and His own way. 

     As believers we should seek to have this kind of faith.  Faith that does not waver.  Does not fall apart during times of silence.  Faith that is audacious, bold and ready for anything.  Our faith cannot be put in the background.  It needs to be front and foremost. 

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."  Matt. 17:20

     Nothing will be impossible for you.  Nothing. 

Do not fear

    Fear keeps the wise from speaking the truth, fear keeps the single mother awake at night, fear stops the teenager from doing right, fear destroys the voice of the abused, fear holds the aspiring artist to not release his work, fear invokes the husband to lie, fear puts the soldier to his knees, fear leads the rich to depression, fear leads the poor to steal, the wrong type of fear erases hope and faith.

    “Do not fear”  Jesus says this one phrase more than any other.  If Christ put such an emphasis on not fearing, we must realize its importance. Fear is a stronghold that is far too overlooked.  Yet, we all fear.  It may be very visible in some lives, or in others it may not.  But it is still there.  Fear is so prominent in our lives.  That is why Jesus said “do not fear” so many times.  He knows that fear is what stops people from doing great.  And fear also leads people to do sinful actions.
   
    How many times have you done something you regret because you were fearful?  How many times have you not done something you knew was right because of fear?  How many times have you lost hope and faith because of fear?  Jesus tells us time and time again to not fear but to “take courage”.  Courage is defined as mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear or difficulty.  So one must have the strength to withstand fear.  Being courageous is not the absence of fear.  It is the ability to face your fears and strive on through them.  The only way to get this strength is from the one who said it best.  Jesus Christ.  He is our source of courage.  The Lord Jesus Christ is our genuine-unfailing source of courage.

    Do not let fear own you.  Stand up and stare it right in the face.  Take courage from The Lord, and strive forward.

Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1
     Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.    
  
     “Living Sacrifices”!  That’s intense.  We Are to “offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.”  Wait-wait, it gets better.  “this is your true and proper worship.”   When we offer our bodies we present, extend, submit or make available ourselves to The Lord.  "this is your true and proper worship".  When Paul wrote this he clearly revealed to us our true and proper way to worship. 
  
     If I were to ask the general church-goers what the “true and proper” way to worship is, what would they say?  They probably wouldn’t know what to say.  Or they might talk about how worship is a time that we reserve during church services.  Or maybe they say that it is when we sing songs in the church.  But really right here we are told how to present Christ with our true and proper worship.  
   

     Too often we put worship into compartments.  Well at this time we worship, oh and then we take a break for awhile.  Then we get back to worship.
  When we are a living sacrifice it is not a part time deal-it is a continual-constant way to worship God.  So remember that worshiping God is not reserved for only inside the churches walls.  It is a daily devotion to being a “living sacrifice".