Monday May 2, 2011

Read Romans 1:5. James 2:14-26

When did you come to the faith? How did you come to the faith? What events led to your believing in Christ Jesus? Many people come to the Lord Jesus, believing in Him but never stopping to analyse, think about or even remotely consider their faith. They are struck by emotion or hurt and respond to the invitation to believe in Jesus and never give it a second thought.

They never think about what faith is and what faith entails. To explain what faith is picture a relay team.  As you stand as the second or third or fourth runner, you know that the baton will be passed to you. You trust that the runner will make it to you, and will pass the baton onto you. When we talk about salvation by faith, we mean that you come into God’s “good book” by trusting in the work of Christ and nothing else. You cannot earn your salvation. You cannot buy your salvation. You cannot blackmail God into saving you.  As you wait for the runner to pass the baton onto you, you can do nothing but trust. This is our salvation by faith.

But what happens when you receive the baton? Can we expect that I, as the new runner, can simply stand there? How ridiculous! Yet many new believers simply stand where they are in life refusing to run with the Christ-baton passed on to them. Can we expect that I, the new runner, will run the wrong way around the track? How absurd! Yet many new believers continue to run the wrong way around the track, as they continue to indulge in sinful thoughts, activities and experiences.  When we receive the baton of faith from Christ Jesus, accepting the faith means running in obedience. It means striving forward to be all that Christ has called us to be. It means learning and growing and maturing in Christ Jesus.  Hopefully this booklet will get you running in the right direction.

As you think about faith in your own life, answer these two questions.

How would you describe your faith at present? (Answer verbally)

Finish these sentences, verbally and in writing.

I wish my faith were…

If I had more faith I would….

Sit with a mature Christian and show them your answer to the above two  sentences. Ask them what it shows about you.

Prayer:-

V Spend time praying that God would increase your faith and mature it in Christ Jesus. Pray this for everyone in your congregation.

V Pray that many in Burma will come to the faith through the witness of the college students.