By Hazel Holland
+BLOG+of+IMG_7595.JPG)
+BLOG+of+IMG_7595.JPG)
Which road will you choose?
We have all heard these familiar Scriptures time and time again. But unfortunately they often produce a works oriented response in us.
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
If we are honest with ourselves we must admit that sometimes we start doing an inventory on our behaviors to see if we measure up. We become concerned and wonder if we are walking by faith...or if we have enough faith to please God... as if faith in itself is a virtue to be desired.
Unfortunately, because the words of Scripture are sometimes interpreted without our understanding the new covenant gospel, a works-based religious mindset is often the result. Faith becomes laced with legalism. Faith becomes the object to be sought after... and the more faith we have the better.
However, the truth is that faith in and of itself is not what these Scriptures are talking about. Faith must have an object upon which it is focused... and that object must be the Person of Jesus Christ. Without placing our faith in the glorious finished work of Jesus Christ, it is impossible to please God! Faith that pleases God is faith that believes in the One He has sent. (John 6:29)
In Christ we are totally pleasing to God. This means that we do not strive to be pleasing to God by our own dead works that we can see. But we rest in Jesus Christ's good work for us on the cross that we cannot see. We know that we are pleasing to God because our faith is placed in Jesus Christ's work alone for our salvation. We are in Him and He is in us. Now we can rest from our own works, and be free to enter into the joy of His good work. This is faith that pleases God.♥
We have all heard these familiar Scriptures time and time again. But unfortunately they often produce a works oriented response in us.
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
If we are honest with ourselves we must admit that sometimes we start doing an inventory on our behaviors to see if we measure up. We become concerned and wonder if we are walking by faith...or if we have enough faith to please God... as if faith in itself is a virtue to be desired.
Unfortunately, because the words of Scripture are sometimes interpreted without our understanding the new covenant gospel, a works-based religious mindset is often the result. Faith becomes laced with legalism. Faith becomes the object to be sought after... and the more faith we have the better.
However, the truth is that faith in and of itself is not what these Scriptures are talking about. Faith must have an object upon which it is focused... and that object must be the Person of Jesus Christ. Without placing our faith in the glorious finished work of Jesus Christ, it is impossible to please God! Faith that pleases God is faith that believes in the One He has sent. (John 6:29)
In Christ we are totally pleasing to God. This means that we do not strive to be pleasing to God by our own dead works that we can see. But we rest in Jesus Christ's good work for us on the cross that we cannot see. We know that we are pleasing to God because our faith is placed in Jesus Christ's work alone for our salvation. We are in Him and He is in us. Now we can rest from our own works, and be free to enter into the joy of His good work. This is faith that pleases God.♥
+IMG_1567.JPG)
+IMG_1172.JPG)
No comments:
Post a Comment