"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" (John 20:29).
This verse above seems to contradict the way the whole world lives! Everything seems to have to be validated by sight. People will not put their confidence in something unless they see it.
If it's a business transaction, you want to see the money first, right? When you chat with people online, it's always great to connect through video so you can see the person with whom you are chatting.
People will flock to all corners of the earth to see a supposed miracle or mystery. They will put their trust in a huge metal cylinder and fly 30,000 feet in the air! They will also pop a pill in their mouths not knowing the contents, trusting that it will make them feel better.
Did you know God is looking for people who will just simply believe Him? He wants people to trust Him, just like you trust the chair you are sitting in to hold you up. As a matter of fact, He says the only people who are accepted by Him are those who live by faith, (in His Word), and not by sight (Galatians 3:11).
One time, people came to the Lord Jesus and said: "The woman who fed you as a newborn baby is surely blessed."
The Lord Jesus didn't even acknowledge His mother concerning this comment; but rather replied: "The really blessed people are those who hear my word and keep it" (Luke 11:28).
How does a life of faith begin? It begins when a person has a time in his or her life when he or she puts trust in the only One who is faithful to save and faithful to keep them for all of eternity (John 10:28).
We can express our faith by praying to God, but more importantly we must express our faith by taking God at His Word, found in the Bible. Without faith, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). But with faith in the Lord, anything is possible!
When faith is demonstrated, it is even praised by the Lord Jesus Himself! The Lord Jesus commended a military officer who expressed faith in His power to save his servant. The man's faith was so great that He believed that the Lord Jesus could heal by simply speaking the word without even being in the presence of his injured servant (Matthew 8:5).
Do you have this kind of faith? It's not about how big your faith is, but really about who your faith is in. "Faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17).
Do you believe that the Lord Jesus is God manifested in flesh? He lived, died, and rose again and is a living Savior who can save anyone-no matter who they are or what they have done.
If you would just come to Him in simple faith, believing that He is who He says He is, expressing your weakness and God's great power, God will hear you! Our disobedience of God's Word has separated us from Himself, but He sent the Lord Jesus to bring people like you and me to God!
It is not God's will for anyone to perish in their sins; He would have all people be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). The greatest verse in the Bible, John 3:16, tells us how much God loves every person immensely, but it also tells us that we must put our trust in His Son. Why? Because the quality of our lives now and our whole eternity depends on whether we will put our faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Once you know that your sins are forgiven and that you are ready to meet God when this life ends, only then can you truly start living a life of faith and walking with God!
There is great joy in trusting the Lord; it is what we were created for! Take a step of faith towards God today; He will honor your faith. He promises to always honor those who honor Him (1Samuel 2:30).
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and the He rewards those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).
Becky Kew is a
distributer of Intertribal Life newspaper and has been involved in First Nations Ministry for over 20 years. You can reach her at Beckykew@outlook.com.
