In the end....the rudiments of faith boil down to a few simple things, at least they do so for me.
Repent of my sins (and they are many) and believe in God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Triune Godhead. Confess publicly that Christ is my Lord and I believe Him to be Risen and seated on the right hand of the Father. That He will come again, to judge the living and the dead, and that all the is wrong will be set right by God.
Love God. That means trying to walk with Him, abide with Him, honor Him and delight in Him.
Love my neighbor. That's pretty much everyone God puts into my path. That doesn't mean I always like someone, but that I must try and act in love. The feeling will follow the action. God doesn't give me exceptions here...just tells me to act in love. Whether I agree with them or not on issues, on faith, on whatever...they are my neighbor, given to me, by God, to cherish and love.
To welcome the broken, the vulnerable, the outcast and the hurting into my heart, and to show them the love of God the best I can.
If I want to be forgiven of my sins, then I must forgive others.
If I want mercy, then I must be merciful.
If I want compassion, then I must be compassionate.
If I want to be judged leniently, then I must be lenient with others. (Which is why I try to leave the whole matter of judgment to God. If we are judged by the same yardstick by which we judge....then Lord, help me to refrain from judging at all, but to leave that to your perfect justice.)
There are a bunch more, smaller, aspects to faith...but these are the big ones. And the good and gracious Lord above knows I am still working on trying to get these down pat, and probably will be for a long time yet. (It is a good thing that He is patient, long suffering and keeps helping me up after I stumble...which is often.)
I don't understand why so many need to take faith and turn it into something angry, something hurtful, something political, or something heavy to carry.
For me, at least, faith is a dance, and God knows how to lead. Faith is a journey, and God leads the expedition and provides for all the needs. Faith is a home, and God is the wise and loving father.
What is faith to you?
Repent of my sins (and they are many) and believe in God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Triune Godhead. Confess publicly that Christ is my Lord and I believe Him to be Risen and seated on the right hand of the Father. That He will come again, to judge the living and the dead, and that all the is wrong will be set right by God.
Love God. That means trying to walk with Him, abide with Him, honor Him and delight in Him.
Love my neighbor. That's pretty much everyone God puts into my path. That doesn't mean I always like someone, but that I must try and act in love. The feeling will follow the action. God doesn't give me exceptions here...just tells me to act in love. Whether I agree with them or not on issues, on faith, on whatever...they are my neighbor, given to me, by God, to cherish and love.
To welcome the broken, the vulnerable, the outcast and the hurting into my heart, and to show them the love of God the best I can.
If I want to be forgiven of my sins, then I must forgive others.
If I want mercy, then I must be merciful.
If I want compassion, then I must be compassionate.
If I want to be judged leniently, then I must be lenient with others. (Which is why I try to leave the whole matter of judgment to God. If we are judged by the same yardstick by which we judge....then Lord, help me to refrain from judging at all, but to leave that to your perfect justice.)
There are a bunch more, smaller, aspects to faith...but these are the big ones. And the good and gracious Lord above knows I am still working on trying to get these down pat, and probably will be for a long time yet. (It is a good thing that He is patient, long suffering and keeps helping me up after I stumble...which is often.)
I don't understand why so many need to take faith and turn it into something angry, something hurtful, something political, or something heavy to carry.
For me, at least, faith is a dance, and God knows how to lead. Faith is a journey, and God leads the expedition and provides for all the needs. Faith is a home, and God is the wise and loving father.
What is faith to you?
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