Struggling With Faith?
How many would say, I’m struggling with faith? How many attended faith conferences, read all the books and watched the videos, and found yourself still wanting? The speakers got you excited, in fact, you felt encouraged by what you heard. “I’ve got it this time!” The books were excellent. They made perfect sense. Part 45 of the video series really brought it home. Then came the reality of life, in which faith-formulas don’t work very well. That’s the thing, there’s a process to faith; and there is no such thing as a faith-formula.
Ironically, what’s about to be said may sound like a formula; but it’s not. It’s a component of the process. This will not cover the mechanics of faith (i.e. “Faith comes by hearing,” etc.). If you center on the mechanics, but overlook this crucial element, the struggle will continue.
The Key Component
Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
If you make love your primary focus, faith will follow. On the other hand, if you choose selfishness and indifference, unforgiveness and bitterness, faith will absolutely elude you. All these disconnect you from God, and the reason for walking by faith, which is love. God is love, and faith originates with Him. Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of faith (see Hebrews 12:2). He revealed that faith requires relationship with our Father, and that states the obvious: relationship requires love.
Matthew 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick.
The reason Jesus did and does anything for humanity is love. Scripture after scripture reveals He was moved with compassion (see also Matthew 9:36; 15:32; 20:34; Luke 7:13, etc.). Again, the Bible reveals God is full of compassion, because that is His nature.
If you focus on faith, but fail to love, faith will be meaningless. Faith is important, but it is not more important than love. Love God and others well, and you may find faith to be a normal part of your life. Hmmm.
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity (AGAPE love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (read entire chapter).
