The Devotional – 162 – Faith is the Victory

The Devotional – 162 – Faith is the Victory

 

Going off to church for me is like going to visit a close personal friend or relative, it is even like going home. So if this is true (and it is) then what should we expect going home with the LORD to be any different? Psalm 119:73-80

 

Comments and Challenges

Dr. David Jeremiah… Faith and Fear

When we think of faith, we think of belief. And when we think of the opposite of belief, we naturally think of unbelief. Therefore, we conclude that the opposite of faith is unbelief. And from a dictionary perspective, that is true. But the Bible usually sets something besides unbelief in opposition to faith -- and that is fear. From a grammatical point of view, the opposite of believing may be not believing. But from the perspective of life, the opposite of faith is fear.

Jesus demonstrated this clearly when a Jewish man begged Him to come and heal his sick daughter. On their way, friends of the man met them and said it was too late -- the little girl had died. But Jesus said to the man, "Do not be afraid; only believe." Jesus didn't tell the man not to doubt -- He told him not to fear. Faith and hope are focused on the future. Facing the future without faith and hope is a good reason to be fearful. Going forward, we have two choices: faith or fear.

Whether the future you are focused on is five minutes, five months, or five years away, "Do not be afraid; only believe."

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
George Muller

Mark 9:14-29

 

The days in which we live today are much like the days during the life of Jesus. Just a quick look at people today reveals the thoughts and intensions of the world around us. Great multitudes of people around the world are searching for answers to problems that only God can solve. There is only one problem with society it is called SIN.

 

Sin reveals itself in FEAR and fear has a worldly wardrobe of anxiety, aggressive behavior, rigid phobias and crime. Unchecked either personally or nationally this clothing brings death to those who wear who wear it. Dr. David Jeremiah explains in one of his books that the opposite of FAITH in God is FEAR of life. The question that Jesus asks the father of the child who unable to speak, was… “How long has the child been this way”, the father’s answer; “since childhood”!

 

This is a long time for any parent to tend to a child who is ill with seizures, the age of the child is of little importance and if your child has ever been sick with a crushing illness you know the time (what might seem to be quick by the one who observes) can seem like a lifetime for the parent. This time spent in concern will always lead to doubt, fear, unbelief and despair.

 

Jesus asks the father to believe; a simple task really, but to the one who has been challenged with trouble; the fatigue of living in that trouble takes over. Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “LORD I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24. Life can be difficult, but I know as you do… Jesus takes the difficult (fear) and replaces it with abiding (Faith).