The Way of Faith

I've been writing the monthly devotional for our women's newsletter at church, so I thought I might post it on my blog as well.

I heard a preacher on the radio many years ago say, “The Christian life is primarily a life of faith.” So true! We like to attach many good (and even Godly) things to the Christian life, but when it really comes down to it, the Christian life is primarily a life of faith. Scripture says that Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. In other words, faith and obedience do not just go together, they are intertwined and cannot be separated. Obedience without faith is legalism, while faith cannot produce any other fruit but obedience.

Our guideline for living is the Bible, but it does not outline word for word every decision with which we will be faced. We face many things in life in which we will have to depend on the leading of the Holy Spirit and make a decision in faith, although God’s Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit never contradict each other.

It is easy, being the insecure human/fallen people we are, to be plagued with self-doubt. Was I right to take that job? Were we right to make that move? Should we have done it that way with our children? The answer is found in faith. Did I take that job in faith? Did we make that move in faith? Did we raise our children in that way in faith?

God honors a heart of faith. A person willing to go out on a limb and risk it all for the sake of Christ is counted as righteousness. One of many Biblical proofs of the value of faith is found in Hebrews chapter 11. Contained there, is story after story, life after life, honored in the pages of Scripture because of their faith.

We will make mistakes in this life. It is part of our sin-nature and our sin-fallen world. But we will not regret the decisions made in faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. – Hebrews 11:6

Sola fide – By Faith Alone!