August 23, 2013

How do we live in faith every day? Living In Faith Everyday means we keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and preserver of our faith. It means knowing our Savior, Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. He is perfect. We are not!

Thankfully, we have a Savior who forgives us for all our sins. He gives us physical life, an abundant life, and eternal life as gifts. We recognize that the forgiveness that Christ offers us didn’t come easily. Jesus suffered and died for our sins. Soldiers spit on Him, mocked Him, beat Him, and stripped Him of His clothes. His disciples and friends deserted Him. Peter denied Him three times. Even His Father turned away as Jesus cried from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) Jesus suffered in our place. His blood covers ours sins. He died. His body was placed in the tomb. It was sealed and guarded. Thankfully, three days later, as He had promised, He rose from the dead. He showed His glorified risen body to the disciples, the women, and to 500 believers at once during the 40 days He remained on earth after His resurrection. Because He rose from the dead, we can be confident that we will also rise and live with Him forever.

Living In Faith Everyday means we understand that we are saved by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), not by our works. But, we also understand that Ephesians 2:10 tells us that God has prepared works for us to do in advance. What work God has prepared for you? Is it helping a woman who is pregnant and alone? Is it ministering to someone who has had an abortion and can’t believe that God would forgive her? Is it feeding the hungry? Is it ministering to the sick? Is it helping those who have lost their home in a tornado? Is it sharing God’s Word with someone who doesn’t know the Lord? Is it offering encouragement and help to those who are Christians, but struggle with drugs, alcohol, pornography, or a myriad of other issues of life? Whatever God has called you to do, do it with joy.

Living In Faith Everyday means we attend worship services, partake of communion, study God’s Word, and pray. We grow spiritually and learn to discern truth from error. With God’s help, we grow into the person God wants us to be.

Living In Faith Everyday means learning to say, “I’m sorry, will you forgive me” to the Lord, and to our family and friends. We also learn to say “I’m sorry” in the workplace, to neighbors, and those we meet in the community.

Living In Faith Everyday means we are confident that He is risen! He is risen indeed! And it means we know that when we die, because of our faith in Christ, we will go to live with Him forever. 

Living In Faith Everyday means we are shining lights for Christ and tell others about the great things that the Lord has done. We tell them about His forgiveness and the grace that He gives us every day.

Living In Faith Everyday means we share the Law and Gospel with those within the Church and those outside of it and speak up for Life! And we remember that it is God who gives us life as a gift.

“‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior’” (Isaiah 43:10-11).