GOD'S PRECIOUS FAITH

THURSDAY 08 SEPTEMBER 2022

When we receive the God-kind of faith at the point of salvation, it prepare us to receive the Holy Spirit as a gift and empowers us to walk with God and also to pray with desired and bigger outcomes in mind. It also helps us to be patient in our expectations, and walk in harmonious association with fellow saints, as well as equip us to be effective witnesses for Jesus. It is also by this faith that we receive God's promises and experience its fulfilment.

Reference: 2 Peter 1:1 New International Version - UK (NIVUK) "Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours."

Everything about our salvation and God's purpose for mankind is based on God's actions, not ours. For instance, at the point of new birth, we have received the righteousness of God and Saviour Jesus Christ as well as His faith. Ephesians 2:8 (NIV) reads, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." Notice the free gift that leads to the salvation of a soul: Grace and faith. We are justified by God's grace which is a free gift but it is received through faith, another free gift. And this faith is designed to work by love, in the continued life of a Christian.

Romans 12:3 (NIV) reads, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you." Got it? This faith is God's product not yours. That means, he brings the faith to us, not the other way round. So it is God that apportions it to each Christian and it comes in degrees. However watch this: The degree varies from one Christian to another because of various purposes designed for Christian service. Comparably, it's just like saying, "There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all." So there are diverse measures of faith but the Lord grants them all to the saints. Furthermore, this measure of faith is the controlling basis by which a Christian's life is determined. Remarkably, it is subject to growth, depending on the Christian and how they submit to the authority of the Word and the Spirit.

God's faith transcends sight because it only comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17 NKJV). That means, the only moment an unbeliever can receive it is when he hears God's Word which in turn, influences his heart and leads to his salvation. Remember that what leads him to salvation is the word of grace he hears - when its preached or shared, because it brings the God-like faith to his Spirit. And this faith is not based on sensory perception since it's a supernatural force. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Mark 4:24; Luke 8:12; Romans 10:14; Hebrews 4 2; 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

Exuberant Declaration: I'm grateful to God that my salvation was first delivered to me by faith and this faith is the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Hence, I go from one degree of strength to another and one degree of glory to another, becoming mature, until I reach the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. By faith in the Word, I experience a continual increase of moral purity, testimony, health, victory, success and holiness. My contemplation of the Word of God discloses more of His nature and perfections, as well His mind and will in my life. As I live by faith in the gospel of Christ, the righteousness that is by faith is continually revealed in my life. Glory to God!