Thursday, August 8, 2013

Live by Faith

“For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.” -Psalm 149:4


And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. Hebrews 10:38-39

Saving faith is a Christian’s starting point and sustaining faith is what carries them forward. Followers of Jesus are saved by grace through faith and they grow by grace through faith. Faith in Christ is the key that unlocks the human heart to God’s imagination. The Holy Spirit looks for a humble spirit to spread around His spiritual security. He draws those full of faith in the fullness of His Spirit. Faith emboldens believers to begin each day better, because they started with Jesus.

Has fear or suffering caused you to shrink back? Are you frustrated by the feeling of two steps forward and one step back? Be encouraged since you are moving along the Lord’s path, though maybe not at the speedy pace you desire. Your Master Jesus takes pleasure in your perseverance when you press forward by faith in the face of frustration. Jesus is your biggest cheerleader. Your little bit of faith in Christ creates enough confidence for today. So, live by faith in God’s son!

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
 
Furthermore it is the faith of Jesus that gives our faith spiritual fortitude. Similar to the fishes and loaves, when we surrendered to Jesus He multiplied our faith by His faith. Because Christ is our life, His faith grows our faith exponentially. Our capacity for belief is only limited by the Lord’s capacity for belief. So, by faith we are called to let Jesus loose with our lips and life. Daily we die to our small thinking and engage in God’s big thinking. Yes, we live by the faith of Jesus for Jesus!
You may start the day on your knees in doubt, but once you leave your concerns at the feet of Christ in prayer,
 
you will stand to your feet to live by faith. You know you live by faith when you’ve cast your cares on your caregiver Jesus Christ. You know you live by faith when your Heavenly Father gives you peace to proceed. You know you live by faith when the Holy Spirit reminds you to give God the glory for your successes. Live by faith in the One who died for you.

"Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith. Galatians 3:11

Prayer: Heavenly Father, lead me to love motivated by Your gracious and giving love.

Related Readings: Habbakuk 2:3-4; Romans 1:17, 8:10; Hebrews 11:13-16; 1 Peter 4:2

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© 2013 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.