Tag Archives: faith

Living on Borrowed Faith

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It’s possible for some people to borrow someone else’s faith and use it for a very long time.  We see this often with children in the families of believers.  They look like Christians, act like Christians, talk like Christians and for all practical purposes seem like the real deal – until something somehow pulls away the curtain to reveal what’s underneath.  Such was the case of King Joash. 

“Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.”  – 2 Chronicles 24:1-2 (NKJV)  

As long as Jehoiada was alive Joash looked like a servant of the Lord.  But alas, something happened:  The old priest died.

“Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. Therefore they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass.” – 2 Chronicles 24:17-18 (NKJV)

Joash even went so far as to order Jehoiada’s son to be stoned for prophesying against him.  In the end Joash’s servants conspired against him and killed him on his own bed.  As a finishing touch to his tragic life, Joash was not buried among the kings.  That honor was given instead to the priest Jehoiada whose faith Joash borrowed while he was young.

Giving Christ the Credit

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The woman with the flow of blood illustrates that faith need not be very vocal to be real and effective.  But the story also shows us that it’s important to give Christ the credit for all He does for us.  Let’s look at the story:

Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.  And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”

When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’“

But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”– Luke 8:43-48 (NKJV)

Perhaps she was simply shy; perhaps embarrassed about her condition.  People have many reasons to be less than public about their faith.  Nonetheless, many of our most private blessings deserve public attention for at least two reasons:

  1. Jesus deserves the credit in the eyes of others for what He does for us.
  2. Because others may be encouraged to trust Jesus for their own very private concerns. 

Putting the Past Behind Us

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When the Lord brought the Israelites over the Jordan and into the Promised Land, He instructed them to set up a memorial.  They were to take twelve stones, one for each tribe, from the midst of the Jordan and set them up as a reminder on the side to which they were crossing.

And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; for the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” – Joshua 4:20-24 (NKJV)

With slavery to sin and some major struggles behind us, we are free to enter the new life of faith.  New battles await us.  New victories need to be won.  We need not, in fact we dare not, go back to Egypt or to wandering in the wilderness. 

The Israelites arrived in the land only by God’s power.  But it would take just as much faith in Him to stay there.  In the same way, the Lord brings us by faith into a victorious Christian life of faith.  We dare not return to fight the battles of the past.

Putting Provision in Perspective

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It’s natural to be concerned about our own needs – and it’s not altogether bad, either.  For one thing, it prompts us to go out and work and there’s nothing at all wrong with that.

“The person who labors, labors for himself,
For his hungry mouth drives him on.”
          – Proverbs 16:26 (NKJV)

Our need for provision prompts us to pray.  That’s what “Give us this day our daily bread” is all about.  There we have it, a prayer for provision from the very mouth of Jesus.

Nonetheless, most of us tend to place our need for provision above our need for the Provider – a clear case of improper priorities.  Therefore Christ also encourages us with the following:

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” – Matthew 6:31-33 (NKJV)

Seeking first His kingdom – let that be our aim.  Let His righteousness be our top priority.  Provision has its place in God’s plan, but if we keep it in perspective, it’s the Provider that will always remain in the foreground of our view of life.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” – Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)