GOD'S WORD
How can I be sure my faith won't collapse one day?
God's Response:
I saw the Lord standing beside a wall that had been built using a plumb line. He was using a plumb line to see if it was still straight. And the Lord said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" I answered, "a plumb line." The Lord replied, "I will test my people with the plumb line. I will no longer ignore all their sins."
Amos 7:7-8
My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths... Take hold of my instructions; don't let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.
Proverbs 4:10-11, 13
Our Takeaway:
A plumb line is a device that uses gravity to determine vertical straightness. A wall that is not straight will eventually collapse. God wants people to be right with Him. He wants us to deal with the sin that makes us crooked. God's Word is the plumb line that helps us become aware of our sin and gives us wisdom for walking in "straight paths".
How do you measure up to God's Word- His plumb line for you life?
God's Promise:
All Scripture is inspired by God.... It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
2 Timothy 3:16
Big T's Thought to Ponder:
Somewhere I once read a wonderful definition of the difference between Hope and Faith and I think it is key to a deeper understanding of the above question regarding how we can be confident that our faith won't collapse someday.
- Hope is knowing that God has already done it.
- Faith is trusting that God will do it.
Our hope is seen all around us - every time we walk outside and take-in a sunrise or sunset, walk alone the beach or just floating down a river. Every time we crack open our Bible and read one of the amazing stories shared from the past. HOPE can be seen everywhere....
Faith comes to us by knowing, trusting, and believing that God is... that God will... and that God can...take care of the unknown and unseen things in our lives. Our faith can only come from Him and should rest in Him alone.
Our faith is found in our relationship with Jesus Christ! The more time we invest, the more we hang around with Jesus - the better we get to know Him and understand Him - the greater our faith becomes.
The deeper and more intimate the relationship, the deeper and more intimate the understanding we begin to have of His attributes and His Love and Grace. He begins to reveal His Greatness to us and through us - His Love, His Joy, His Peace, His Longsuffering; His Goodness and Kindness; His Patience and yes, His Faithfulness...
We begin to have faith in the unseen through our trials and troubles by wrapping ourselves in His promise and by understanding and knowing that He is walking us through our biggest struggles and most overwhelming hurts. The greater our faith in these moments, the more he reveals.
He opens our eyes as we believe and trust. The greater our dependence on Him verses ourselves, the greater our strength in Him. As we abide and remain in Him, He begins to mold us with His beautiful attributes and we start to and inherit these Christlike characteristics.
He is our Strength! His is our Hope! He becomes our Faith because He is our Faith! He opens our eyes as we believe and trust in Him for ALL THINGS....
