Though
we are born with the adamic sinful nature, God still gives us the ability to
have real faith in Him. We are given a
measure of faith and if it is nurtured by our choice and will, it will grow
into a life saving power that will transform us into the image of Christ. This is the purpose of faith. It is not to heap upon ourselves pleasures
and comforts that come from this world, but to willingly die to them so the
life of Christ may be manifested in us.
True
faith is a pure trust in the Lord, that He will DO as He has promised. The fruit of this complete trust is obediance or submission to God's will, you cannot seperate the two. It is a trust that we can abandon ourselves
to Him and trust that He will work everything out according to His will. His known will is to transform us into His
image at whatever the cost might be to our natural life.
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only [so],
but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed;
because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is
given unto us. - (Romans 5:2-5)
Faith
(or trust) will remind us of His grace and mercy that says He will not allow
more on us than we can handle, (1 Corinthians 10:13 ). This faith
does not need to pray to be relieved of the trials and tribulations that come
our way, but it will pray as the Lord prayed, “Not my will, but thy will be
done” as these are necessary tools that will put to death the old sinful
nature, the body of flesh we were born with.
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to
try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” (1 Peter 4:12 )”…and we must through much tribulation enter into
the kingdom of God .
- (Acts 14:22b)
Faith
will cause us not to look at the situation or trouble that has come our way,
but will look to Christ and His guidance in it and will trust in Him to work
out His plan in us in all that comes our way.
For
those that are committed to the Lord are no longer their own, but they are the possession
of the Lord and as such, are no longer subject to the “natural” course and
events of the world; there are no longer any “accidents” in their lives, for everything
comes under the powerful, watchful care of the Lord and His dictates. The only thing that can move us away from
this complete care of the Lord is our willful decision to have our way rather
than the His. But as we submit to His
providences in pure trust, we can see His hand in it and will see more of His
Life being revealed in us through these “crosses” and one day will be able to
say with Paul… “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”. - (Galatians
2:20)
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