Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Excelling in the Grace of Faith

Luke 17v5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our Faith”

Faith is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” Hebrews 11v1. It is not an absence of questions, concerns or doubts, but it is a confidence sufficient to result in action through the doubts and the questions.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God” Hebrews 11v6. Faith is the bedrock of any relationship and most notably our relationship with God. We need the faith to believe in his existence and in his desires for us.

Faith is based on evidence and so John writes, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ.” John 20v31. The reality is that the more we live by faith, the more evidence we have in our memories to go on, because God is faithful!

Faith is “not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2v8. The disciples were right to ask the Lord to increase their faith (Luke 17v5) because he is the one who gives faith. Faith is a grace – it is his free gift to us. Give him thanks for the faith he has given to you and ask him for more!!

Faith is a whole life thing. The disciples asked for more faith, not so that they could do great miracles, but so that they could forgive those who sinned against them (see Luke 17v1-6). Is my response to those around me a response based on faith in God? –  Does my action result from faith that God loves those around me; he has forgiven me; he is willing to forgive them; that each of us are ultimately accountable to him; …

Jesus continues to encourage the disciples by stating that their faith does not need to be huge, it only needs to be enough to act (Luke 17v6). I am convinced that God will answer your prayers for increasing faith!

May God, in his grace, give you sufficient faith for today and all you encounter.

With love and blessing,

Roland