Sunday, January 5, 2014

Faith Is A Persuasion (Matthew 9:21)

Faith is a condition in the heart of man that occurs when he is persuaded to believe that certain events will transpire.  It is not directly tied to God or the scriptures.  Both lost and saved men exercise faith on a daily basis.  The difference between the two is that one has their faith fixed in truth while the other's faith is misplaced in error.

In Matthew 9:21, a woman approaches Jesus and is completely persuaded that if she but touches the hem of his garment, she will be healed.  When I read the passage, I am forced to ask myself, "Do I have this magnitude of faith in my life?"  To be honest, I must confess that I usually have a mixed response.  My faith is firmly fixed on Jesus and because I have trusted only him for salvation, I have been redeemed from sin, adopted into his family, received his righteousness and will at some time meet him either in Heaven or in the air, but does God expect more from you and me?

Does he want your life to be a life of faith?  God wants you to live looking to him in a way that shows you are persuaded or convinced that he will perform expectedly.   Are you persuaded that God will always be faithful to you?  Are you persuaded that regardless of how circumstances may appear, God is good and he will always act in a manner that is for your good?  Are you persuaded that God will supply strength for your trials?  His strength may come to you through various methods, but it will come.  Are you persuaded that God's word is true and his manner of dealing with life's problems--as addressed in the scriptures--is always right?

Are you convinced or persuaded that you will always be acceptable to God?  Do you believe that you don't need to measure up or perform?  You can't measure up or perform to his desired level anyway.  in Jesus you are accepted.  Are you persuaded that God will not allow you to wander away in sin?  If you do, God, as a loving father, will bring correction into your life to bring you back.  

Faith is vitally important in salvation and and in daily living.  We should be persuaded about the finished work of Christ on the cross and also that he will be faithful to us.  Are you convinced?  Are you living the persuaded life?

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