THE OTHER SIDE OF FAITH

While most of our thoughts regarding great faith are often associated with acquiring possessions, a happy comfortable life, great achievements, fame and power, nothing could be further from the truth. If we apply such standards to Jesus, he would not feature in our halls of faith. He:

• Experienced hunger - John 4:33, Luke 4:2
• Had no place to lay his head - Luke 9:58
• Was a man of sorrows, familiar with pain and suffering - Isaiah 53:3
• Had no children of his own ("who can speak of his descendants?") - Isaiah 53:8 …

and yet no man ever showed such trust and faith in God - Mark 11:23,24.

What about the example of Paul?

2 Corinthians 11:23-27
Paul talks of hunger, severe flogging, going without sleep and food, and being cold and naked! Did all this happen to him because he lacked faith? By no means.

Ephesians 3:20
Paul states how God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.

Hebrews 11 shows the great achievements of faith, but also great endurance unto death that it also produced. Verse 38 talks of wandering in deserts and on mountains, in caves and in holes in the ground.

Hebrews 11:39
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.

Q. How are you doing in your perseverance in doing good no matter the circumstances?

That things are not going your way does not necessarily mean that you have no faith. For example, if you do not have a job right now, it does not mean that those with jobs have greater faith than you do. Your faith is shown by how righteous you can still be despite your humble circumstances. Your ability to stand is the expression of your faith.

Do not grow weary in doing good because you will be rewarded.

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