Does Faith Work?

Does Faith Work?

Does faith work?What do you think? Does faith work or is it just a collection of meaningless religious rituals and a collection of outdated dogma? Too often people make their minds about this without testing it. Because if you do test-drive faith in Jesus, you will soon realize: it does work.

How does faith work?

It is a mystery. We don’t know how God operates. I find it wonderful that I can’t put God in a box. God is God and still, he loves me. When I pray, he hears me and answers me. Also, the forgiveness of sins is real, once you confess your sins and ask for forgiveness, the Holy Spirit lifts your sins away and gives you peace. Try it yourself.

God seeks you

Faith works because God seeks us. It is always God first. Then we are able to respond to his love and grace. Just think of Mary at Jesus’ grave on Easter morning. She was not able to recognize Jesus until Jesus called out to her. When her spiritual eyes were opened, she was able to see Jesus.

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). (John 20:11-16, NIV, emphasis added,*)

Faith does work

Faith works because it’s not about us. It’s about Jesus. He seeks us and enables us to believe. And even that’s not all. Jesus gives us grace upon grace to empower us to believe and live out our faith. Faith works because it does not depend on our abilities or works. It works because of God. Faith is a gift from God, from start to finish.

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for seeking our for us,
giving us spiritual eyes to see Jesus.
Pour out grace upon grace,
empower us to love and serve like Jesus.
Come and move in our lives,
show us how you work in, for, through our lives.
Let us feel your presence right now.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: What do you think? Does faith work?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you receive God’s gift of faith and use it every of your life!

* [As you might have noticed, I enjoy reading the Bible in different translations and love comparing them. I have started linking the Bible verses toBiblegateway.com so you can easily read (and compare) them in the different versions I’ve used while preparing each post.].

Photo by Karl Fredrickson on Unsplash, design by Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Dance with JesusFive-minute Friday.

6 thoughts on “Does Faith Work?

  1. Popping over from FMF. Does faith work? I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be standing upright if not for God’s gracious gift. Blessings.

  2. Hi, yes, I do believe it does, but like you, it’s often a mystery. There is incredible healing power in belief and hope. (I just read The Anatomy of Hope by Groopman: highly recommend). Anyway, yes, and amen to all that you said. Thank goodness faith doesn’t depend on me. Thank goodness He is faithful.

  3. Faith works, even when “our faith” falls far short. I love what the epileptic boy’s father said, “I believe. Help my unbelief!” As you said so well, it’s about Him and His faithfulness.

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