1 Corinthians 12:4-11 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Faith is a complete trust and firm
belief in something for which there is no evidence or proof. God’s Word has much to say about the
foundation of faith in the Christian life:
Hebrews 11:1-3, 6 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended
for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so
that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. … And without faith it
is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that
he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
It is the attitude of the world that only what may be seen can be known. A person must see something to accept it. Thus, the world cannot receive nor understand the things of God because the world confuses what is visible and tangible with truth. The truth of God cannot be grasped by sight. Belief in God requires faith.
Interestingly, it was the Israelites as a nation from the earliest days of exile who replaced faith with tangible things of sight. From the moment they substituted faith for a visible golden image to represent what they could not see, things took a downward spiral. The consequences were severe. Subsequently, over and over we have been cautioned that to add things that are seen (e.g., images, idols, tableaus, and the like) to supplement our faith is not approved in Scripture.
Religious history is no exception to this thought. Israel, as noted, turned from faith in God to the visibility found in idols. The Gnostics of ancient time centered everything on sight. Throughout the medieval and middle ages, the established church placed great emphasis on religious images. These were used to “visualize” faith.
The fallacy of the modern experiential revolutions is to follow likewise. In modern times, the “images” now become a wide variety of so-called miracles that boastfully pride themselves as visible evidence of supernatural powers and manifestations. The error is to create standards that make sight superior to faith.
To be sure, Jesus performed many miracles in his ministry. And John reminds us that these miracles were recorded so that men would “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:21). The Apostle’s group performed miracles that authenticated the message of Jesus. However, visible miracles were never on exhibit to promote the individual, they were always pointing the way to salvation in Christ. They were never part of the spectacular. There was no charismatic demonstration. Personal religious “experiences” are never applauded in Scripture.
2 Corinthians 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.
Hebrews 4:2 For we also have had the gospel preached to
us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them,
because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
Yet in regard to Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, there seems to be a stronger message of faith. This is the kind of faith that produces results. It not only trusts and believes in God who is unseen, but it does so with the conviction of giving all one is and all one has to offer in making the message of the Gospel evident to others. It is the life one lives daily and consistently through productive faith, not the visible miracles one can produce, that points the way to a living Savior.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Forgive us when we seek things to supplement our faith. Grant to us the kind of faith that trusts completely in You. Grant to us the kind of faith that causes us to be productive servants.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.
The devotional Productive Faith appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
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