Faith is Proven

Romans 12 to 16 What is faith? How do you know you have it, or how do you know it is real? These are questions that come to us from those who are struggling in their walk with the Lord. Faith is an intangible gift from God. You can’t see it or feel or smell it or touch it, but it is real. Faith is proven not by our feelings but by our way of walking, trusting God for each new step along a path He has ordered in eternity past. It is, as James said, proven by our works. Paul says we prove it by presenting our bodies as a sacrifice—alive, holy, and pleasing to God. He notes that it must be without hypocrisy, for love is the highest and greatest gift to God and mankind. That is the real test of faith.

We all have those in our sphere of influence who are weak in their faith. How then do we engage them and encourage them? We do it by not judging them for their walk. Practically we “who are strong [in our faith] ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not just please ourselves.” [Rom 15:1 author addition]Further on, we are to receive each other just as Christ has received you.

May this day be a day in which we don’t look inwardly at our faith but outwardly in the demonstration of our faith to others.