Solid Faith: Day 5

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.        

Romans 12:2

When your faith is in money you work and save. When you place your faith in relationships, you structure your life around people. When you believe in yourself, you get out there in the mix to prove your worth.  When you place your faith in God, you do—what?

 Years ago, a friend said to me (with some resignation), “It always gets back to the same thing, doesn’t it” By that, she meant Bible study and prayer. Today I would add a third: obedience. We have a culture both in and out of the church that is hypocritical, double-minded and sin-hardened. In the words of Jeremiah, “they don’t even know how to blush.” (6:13)     

Of course, God will judge. But that’s not the point.

You cannot walk, grow in grace or experience the blessings of faith if you unashamedly cherish sin in your life. No matter what kind of terms you think you and God are on, “you are dead in your trespasses and sins.” (Eph. 2:1-3) Dead people can’t feel God’s pleasure or receive His rewards; dead people can’t experience the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.   

In the book of James we learn that faith without works is dead. These are some of the works of faith: reading and meditation on The Word, confession and repentance from sin, time for both speaking and listening to Him in prayer.

Like the proverbial journey of a thousand miles, the process of transformation begins with a single step, then another and another—each firmer and more certain than the last. Then one day we will take that last step and come face to face with our God, our reward and our home.

Nancy Shirah