In times of crisis, we often hear the admonition to “have a little faith;” but without a clear sense of the term, how will we know how to apply it?
1. How exactly does the Bible define “faith?”
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
a. Put briefly, faith is a matter of trust; whenever you sit in a chair or even take a step with your own two feet, you trust that the chair will hold you up or that your feet and legs will support you. The same is true in our spiritual life; we trust Jesus with our temporal and spiritual well-being.
b. Faith is active – it is not just a feeling or momentary decision, but a continuous lifestyle. James 2 explains that faith is belief followed by action; as a result of GOD’s saving grace and salvation through Jesus Christ, we are able to live lives filled with good works, fueled by the growing faith that is the result of GOD’s gift of new life.
2. What does faith look like?
a. Stepping outside your comfort zone, taking risks when GOD calls you to follow Him. Some unbelievers snidely refer to faith as a crutch; a more fitting analogy would a stretcher – like Daniel’s three friends in the fiery furnace, we place the entirety of our lives in the hands of GOD.
b. I am reminded of a saying I heard in my first year of college; it is a challenge to all who strive to be faithful: “If you want to walk on water, you have to get put of the boat.” The imagery for this draws from the account in Matthew 14:22-32, when Jesus walked on water and Simon Peter asked to join him. As soon as he took his eyes off of Jesus, he began to sink; many deride Peter for his faltering faith, but there’s another angle to this event that many miss. Peter’s faith may not have been the greatest at this point of his life, but of the twelve men who were in the boat, he was the ONLY one who had enough faith in Jesus to step out onto the water.
3. How does faith play a role in our everyday lives?
Ephesians 6:16 …”above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”
In the imagery of armor for battle, Paul introduces us to the essentials of the Christian lifestyle. Faith is our shield; by walking closely with GOD, remembering who He is and trusting in His promises, we are able to resist and turn away the temptations that Satan and his minions throw in our direction.