I don’t know that it matters how long someone has been a professing Christian to wonder why you still have thoughts like this one: “Is my faith good enough?” Or maybe, “Am I doing this right?”
I just read a line from a devotional that might help us all, whether you’re fresh in or a long hauler.
Was Abraham’s faith a faith without deeds? No way, says James. Abraham trusted God so much he was willing to sacrifice his son (Genesis 22). His faith was not only a conviction about the existence of God; it was a conviction that was ‘made complete,’ that is, shown to be true faith, by his deeds of devotion. And so was fulfilled the statement of Genesis 15:6, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” To believe in God in the biblical sense, argues James, involves a commitment to action.
James 2, Worldly Favouritism (YouVersion)
99.9% of us will never be asked to carry out Abraham’s test. But if we’re attempting to communicate daily with the Holy Spirit, we are asked to do ordinary faith deeds every day. When we do, our faith is being made complete.
For example…
- When we hold our tongue from gossiping
- When we don’t return hate
- When we respect our elders
- When we love the unlovely
- When we are generous with our time
- When we say yes in spite of our fear or rebellion
- When we have compassion for a stranger in pain
- When we weep with those who weep
This list could go on and on. The meaningful and encouraging word from this devotion was that my faith may not be perfect, but that’s not the point. The point is that it’s active.
At the end of each day, may we look back to see where our faith was active and hear a whispered, “In you I am well pleased. Your faith is complete.”
Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash
Will our faith ever be complete on earth? I feel that my faith will never be complete until faith has become sight, hope has become reality, and love is being fulfilled in being with our Savior, who is perfect love, forever. Am I limiting the definition of faith too much? Certainly it is a growing faith, but does it reach full measure in this life? I am not sure. At least I feel that my faith still has room for growth,
LikeLike