By Faith ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

Yesterday I had a long conversation with someone I love dearly.  This beautiful soul struggles with faith.  Faith comes easily for me.  When I see this struggle, it reminds me of how hard it was for me to come to faith.  I will ask the indulgence of those who do not share my faith.  I feel I need a little deeper dive into what it means to live by faith. 

There are areas where I need more faith.  Places in my heart and mind need to have faith first.  I get in the way.  I imagine or plan instead of listening and following.  For the last week I have done a deep dive into the New Testament letter to the Hebrews.  It is a clear defense of the need for faith.

I have friends who refuse to have faith.  Faith is what they oppose.  The problem is that we all have faith in something.  We all believe in our own certainties.  We have faith that there is no God or faith that there is.  We have faith that there is only the natural world or that the universe fell from the fingertips of a Creator. 

We are designed to live by faith.  I have chosen Christ as the object of my faith.  It is a reasonable choice.  It is a logical one.  It is also foolish and daring.   There is also the vital truth that faith in Christ requires that we live in the crux of a paradox.  That too, however, is an act of faith. 

An honest examination of the day shows that we exhibit faith often.  We often place it in things that we should not.  It is still faith.  Since I know I live by faith I want to assure that I put it in the proper place.  Walk with me if you can Dear Reader.  Faith is all I have and your company makes it richer. 

By Faith – Michael Card

By faith one was commended

For the sacrifice he made

Another out of holy fear

Built an ark the world to save

Another left his homeland

and as a stranger he'd reside

But none received the promise then

And so, in faith, they died.

Others conquered kingdoms

Quenched the fury of the flames

Some made strong in battle

Some were raised to life again

But many more were martyred

Midst the crowds loud clamoring

By faith they would not bow the knee

Nor kiss the emperor's ring

Faith understands and offers

It assures and calms our fears

It can shut the mouths of lions

And make sense of scars and tears

We persevere in hope

And with conscience clean and clear

We walk this fallen wilderness

With Salvation's Pioneer

Being sure of what we hope for

Seeing what is yet unseen

A universe from nothingness

New life where none had been

The known made from unknowable

And hope for the comfortless

Who hear and hold on firmly to

The faith that they possess

So fix your eyes upon the Champion

As you seek to run the race

Understanding that He cheers you on

As you long for His embrace

So hold on and do not grow weary

Of the faith that you profess

Remembering that you are ringed around

By this cloud of witnesses

  

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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