Stepping out in faith

It’s still early days and perhaps too soon to tell how well (or not) we will fare with our New Year resolutions. For some, a bright and enthusiastic start is already showing signs of bountiful year end results. Yet for others, it’s been a rather gloomy start, and the temptation to quit is looming.

Whatever side of the scale you tilt towards, it’s worth keeping an eye on your game plan.

For us believers, a crucial part of our journey is faith – faith, not in and of itself, but in the God who is trustworthy and faithful.

Run-of-the-mill ‘faith’

The idea of faith is not exclusive to religious circles, but features implicitly in our day to day living.  For example, buying a ticket to board a passenger plane shows trust in the pilot’s ability to safely fly and land the plane at the port of destination. Or dashing through the door in a rush to catch an early morning bus shows a measure of faith in the bus driver that he hasn’t overslept or altogether forgotten that he does have a job!

Generally speaking then, we all encounter life with varying degrees of faith.

Yet as vitally important and pervasive as faith is, it is the object of faith that is of greater significance. In other words, in whom or what are you investing your trust?

A different kind of faith

There is an aspect of faith shown at the level of awareness – this faith says ‘yes, I know the information’, but this doesn’t necessarily translate to a persuasion of the truthfulness and reliability of that information. Biblical faith on the other hand goes beyond mere intellectual assent; it reaches for the heart and will in such a way that faith becomes a ‘whole of life’ experience. In other words, faith and action become intertwined.

Pleasing God

Equally as important as producing good works, faith is essential in pleasing God. In fact, the Bible asserts that without faith, it is impossible to please God.

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

Whatever step of faith you’re taking – from the humdrum to the exciting, remember it’s not so much about your faith in faith, rather in the reliable and worthy One. And oh how comforting it is to know that even those of little faith have the same trustworthy and faithful God as those with much.

How then shall we live? Simply by faith!

Thanks for reading!

Sike Osinuga.