A living faith

Author: Bishop R. Braun
June 2023



What are the basic necessities that we need to stay alive? Many would agree that we need air, food, water, clothing, and sleep. I am sure each of us understands that we need these five necessities to live and survive. Let’s expand on this question. What do we need to have a living faith?

Faith comes from believing, accepting, trusting, and having hope in God and Jesus Christ. This describes faith at its most basic level. A living faith, however, must be more than basic. Faith needs to be alive. In our natural lives, to stay alive, we must do something. We have to breathe, eat, and drink, among many other things. It requires effort. Our faith is no different! Faith requires an effort not only to be alive but stay alive.

What are some ways we can have a living faith?

  • Praying. Faith without prayer is not a living faith, and prayer without faith is not a real prayer. Jesus said, “You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” (Matthew 21:22 NLT)
  • Hearing. Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” (Romans 10:17 NLT)
  • Doing. Apostle James states, “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” (James 2:17 NLT)
  • Sharing. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15 NLT)

These are some things we can do to have a living faith. The one commonality in all of them is that they require effort. To have a living faith means we follow and practice them in our daily life. If we can do these four things, our faith can and will be a living faith.

As we are halfway through the year, allow me to ask you a very personal question: How is your living faith?

Let us come to God in prayer, attend services to hear the word of God, do good to our neighbour and share the promise of God. He wants all humankind to be saved. Let us wait patiently, with a living faith, for the Lord Jesus to return to take us with Him.

 

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