Are You Walking in Faith?

Message from Pastor Tom,

I was sitting here reminiscing about this past spring and summer Heidi and I have had the pleasure of enjoying, praising God for all His many blessings. Now fall is here and the leaves will start turning their brilliant colors, covering the ground placing a picturesque pattern wherever they may fall. The fall mornings will bring a brisk coolness in the air, and we know the holidays are just around the corner. We will soon be wrapped up in Trick-or-Treating with our children and grandchildren, then thoughts of turkeys baking in the oven for Thanksgiving dinner, followed by Christmas shopping and all the holiday fellowship with family and friends. So many more holiday memories to be made… what great fun there is to be had by all. But if I could, I would like to turn your attention back to your Faith in God during this time of merriment.

As I was reading my daily devotion on how Christians should be running their race in Faith for God, I thought this month is perfect for shining a little more light on Faith. Faith is not just about running a race; it is also about walking the walk. Its not just the outcome of something we endeavor to achieve, it’s a journey to be experienced. Romans 13:13 says, “Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see.” Christians, we are being watched 24/7 in everything we do and how we react to any given situation. This is always a good thing to remember as we interact with people at work or in the community, in our texts and e-mails, its how we respond to frustrations, annoyances, difficulties and temptations laid before us. How we react shows our faithfulness in our Christianity, and the last thing we want to do is misrepresent Jesus Christ to the world.

Christians recognize their role in faith is to be active, obedient and attempt to have a simple trust and belief in the Word of God. I believe faith is a deeper conviction to God, just as Abraham showed with his son Isaac. Faith does not have a magical ingredient that when we read God’s Words, we instantly have deep faith. However, it does lead to a more confident attitude towards God, with the understanding of the assurance of God’s power and will to act in our lives. Only the Word of God is brought to life and expressed through the Holy Spirit where He then leads, directs and opens our hearts to the love God has for us. In turn, we need to fall in love with God, have complete devotion and commitment to Him in order to strengthen our Faith just as He intends.

Since many of life’s most challenging situations arise completely unexpected, it’s important we prepare ourselves beforehand, so we’ll be equipped to display Christ-likeness in how we respond so our witness will not be derailed. As Christians, the decisions we make in our daily lives in regards to our faith will ultimately affect the outcome of our eternity with God. These decisions are completely made by our faith, based on our fundamental Christian beliefs, our devotion and the morals taught through the Scriptures as revealed in Hebrews. To do otherwise is to live apart from God, without having love for Him, making one no different than the rest of the nonbelievers of this world where hell is their only eternal life. Let Jesus motivate you to live in purity, as He abides within every believer through His indwelling Holy Spirit. That means selfish and sinful thoughts, attitudes, words and actions have no place in our lives. Be mindful He is always with you, and let Him direct your choices and purify your life.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, as always I hope it spiritually enriches you.

Blessings from a pastor and his wife. 

So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us. 1 John 2:24-25 (NLT)