Unshakeable Faith
Written by: Anonymous
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits[a] to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings[b] we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Many things happen (such as an unprecedented coup attempt this week against the government) that can shake us and challenge our sense of security. While the days we live in are uncertain, as believers we can stand firm and control our faith. Through the Bible we can have a solid foundation of faith in God, who is eternal, all loving, and all powerful. No matter what life throws us, how steady is your faith?
Read John 6
Renewed Faith
When Jesus was met with the overwhelming needs of the people for food he used it as a teachable moment for his disciples. He tested their faith as his question to Philip shows “Where will be buy bread for these people to eat?”. The disciples were shaky, torn, and hesitant about being asked to provide for so many.
Jesus showed his followers a faith-boosting miracle when he fed the 5,000. His unshakeable faith called the disciples higher to have the same level of faith in the miraculous power of God. By asking them to feed the people, he was giving them the opportunity to go beyond what they could do to see what God could do through their faith. Through our challenges, our faith is tested to not only rely on Jesus to meet our needs, but also to rely on His power to renew our faith in what’s possible.
Standing Firm
Jesus calls His followers to a level of faith that goes beyond meeting their personal needs to reflect an unshakeable faith in God. He fed the people to demonstrate that miracles are possible through faith and obedience. Have you ever seen a miracle?
God expects true believers to be people of faith who live a lifestyle that serves Him over self.
The disciples in the Bible were deeply challenged by this expectation. Just as the disciples in the Bible considered it a huge cost to live for Jesus and others first, it is also a cost for us today. Every single day you have to count the cost to be a disciple.
When Jesus explained to them what it would take to be His follower, His disciples responded with
“This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
Are some of the things that were once basic for you now “too hard of a teaching?” Is there anywhere in your walk where you are no longer willing to do whatever it takes to follow Jesus?
I pray we can all have the attitude of Peter; when Jesus asked Peter if he wanted to leave Him, Peter replied,
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Steps to a Firmer Faith
Write down three miracles you’ve seen in your life and the impact they had on you and others.
Inspect and repair the building blocks of your faith. Are you holding firm to the basics of reading, prayer, devotion to the body, learning from a disciple mentor, living for righteousness, studying the Bible with others?
What is your plan to repent?
Choose to do something faithful that can only be done through prayer and God’s power.
Photo credit: Joe Cavazos “The Easter Story”
Thanks for reading this Christian Blog series: “Sermonized”. We will have a blog post every Monday ready for your quiet time!
