Cedar Rapids Trinity UMC - It's ALL about Jesus!!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ -

 "To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see. It was by their faith that people of ancient times won God's approval. It is by faith that we understand that the universe was created by God's word, so that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen. No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek Him."

 Hebrews 11:1 - 3, 6   GNT

            So, what exactly is faith? This question came to my mind recently, and so I decided to go ahead and look it up. I borrowed an old Webster's New World Dictionary from the office one day, and turning to the "F" section I found the word "faith" on page 522. Webster defined faith as:  1) unquestioning belief; 2) unquestioning belief in God, religion, etc; and 3) anything believed. It was this third option - "anything believed" - that caught my eye the most, and as I thought about it, I said "Boy, is that ever true!"

            Because you see, everyone in the world today is full of faith - lack of faith is not the problem. The problem is what we put our faith in. As I look around today and see degree of trust that people put into the things of this world - lifestyle choices, money, materialism, status, the nonstop pursuit of "personal happiness and fulfillment" at the expense of Godliness and everything else - it becomes abundantly clear why church attendance across the nation is as low as it is. You see, the majority of people seem to be worshipping another god, and in many cases I would suggest that the other god is themselves.

            Sure, most people in the U.S. identify themselves with some form of Christian affiliation, and they say that they believe in God, and that they believe in Jesus Christ. But does the occasional appearance at a church constitute real, living faith?  I think not, but where are each of us in our faith walk today?

• 1. Ephesians 2:8-9 says that we are saved by grace, through faith - not by our own works. Jesus wants all of you, not just the Sunday morning part. Is your heart and soul with Jesus, or are you trying to earn your way into Heaven by "doing stuff" without actively engaging Jesus in your life?
• 2. James 2 tells us that faith without works is death, and that simple intellectual acknowledgement of the facts of the death and resurrection of Jesus aren't enough - even Satan and the demons believe that much, and they certainly aren't saved! So, does your faith manifest itself in Godly living, and in works of love for others?
• 3. In Luke 17, Jesus says that you only need faith the size of a mustard seed in order for God to do mighty things through you, but a mustard seed grows to the size of a mighty tree. Is your faith growing, or is it dormant?
• 4. In Matthew 7, Jesus says that those who hear His words but don't live according to them are like a fool who builds his house on the sand - and when the storms of life attack, the house collapses. Jesus' ministry and the Word He left tells us how to live a life of personal holiness and be in service to others while "making disciples of all nations". Do you have enough faith to believe that Jesus knows what's best for your life, or do you believe that you are the exception and that all of this "Bible stuff" is outdated, or pertains to someone else?

            Join me today in taking an honest look at yourself, and see (in John Wesley's words) "how is it with your soul?"  Maybe you haven't been back to church in a while - come back and join us, to worship God and kick-start your discipleship. Maybe you have been to church, but have no relationship with God ("a form of godliness without the power", as Paul said to Timothy). Don't worry - I've been there & done that myself! So come back, start growing, and experience the joy and assurance that faith brings.

All God's blessings to you and yours,