Pastor column: The just will live by faith
The Apostle Paul tells us that “The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17). But faith can’t be seen or heard or even touched. It is a quality of the heart within. Yet faith expresses its unwavering trust in God and His Word.
The eyes of faith can see that which cannot be seen. You see faith is “the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith sees hope when despair is visible. It sees answers for unanswered problems. It sees God’s mighty ability and availability to take mustard-seed faith and move mountains (Mark 11:22-24). Faith sees the promises of God. It releases the power of God. It moves in the purposes of God. Prayer is always about aligning our faith with God’s Word so that His will is accomplished.
The ears of faith can hear the voice of the Good Shepherd (John 10). Hearing the Shepherd's voice is more than audible reception, but the ability to recognize, by faith-listening, it is Jesus speaking.
We hear what we listen for. What is it that catches our attention? What sounds perks up our ears and gains our full concentration? I think it is our full awareness of our need to listen to God and that takes simple faith.
Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice. I know them and they follow Me” (John 10:27). I believe Jesus means that those who are truly children of God don’t just “hear” His voice but can recognize that it’s a call for obedience. Faith hears the command to go and it obeys. Faith hears God speak and responds with adoration and praise to Him. It is a true blessing to have such a personal, loving and intimate relationship with God that you can know that what you are “hearing” is God speaking to you.
The hands of faith can do the work of God for “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). In the Christian’s life, faith and works go together. Billy Graham stated it in these terms: “Faith is taking the Gospel in … works is taking the Gospel out." You see, faith is never something just to be talked about. It is something that must be demonstrated in the way we live — in our conduct, in our conversation — and faith must be consistently on display. Paul Harvey once said, "If you don't live it, you don't really believe it."
Faith reaches out to the hurting, the lost and offers love. It holds up the banner of victory through Jesus Christ. Faith can touch the very heart of God. The Bible promises in Romans 12:3 that we all have the gift of faith. It’s that faith working in us that sees a need, hears the answer, and gets the job done. Faith allows us to believe the impossible and receive the impossible.
Thank God for the power of genuine, biblical faith! Trust Him! Hold onto His promises and in His time, He will bring them to pass!
Rev. J. Patrick Street is the lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Marion. He can be reached at coachpatstreet@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: The power of faith in God
