Spiritual Growth #8 – A Walk by Faith

In Part or Full?

2014, papaya

Christians, who have “in part” faith, actually have "hope" that our faith is faith. So, we indulge in fun things that have their origins in our fallen nature such as sexual immorality, greed, disobedience, hatred, jealousy, rage, selfish ambition, envy, drunkenness, etc. (Gal. 5:19-21). We “take faith” that regardless of these carnal activities, our salvation is still preserved. However, once these plantings reach full bloom, they decompose into our daily problems such as disease, lawlessness, suicide, crime, loneliness, unhappiness, discord, misunderstandings, revenge, cursing, backbiting, fighting, yelling, lying, screaming, etc. Thus, our tumultuous emotions blind us from ever seeing that our problems began with our in part faith as Christians.

For Christians who choose to follow (akŏlŏuthĕō, be in the same way with) Jesus, at first we find it difficult to let go of the fun things that emerge from our fallen nature (1 Peter 1:6-9). But eventually we do. Now the air seems cleaner, lighter, and life becomes stable, peaceful. The kids might even remark how “boring” it is at home, mistaking peace for boredom. This is the reality of a spiritually mature Christian, one who lives according to the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23). Wisdom informs us how to redeem the time because the days are evil (Eph. 5:15, 16). Joy gives us endurance through difficult times (Heb. 12:2). Patience helps us reach the finish line (Heb. 12:1). And love assures us of success because love never fails (1 Cor. 13:4-8).

It's all about a walk by faith, which is full of substance and proof (Heb. 11:1)!

=========================================================

Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version, Cambridge 1769. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Spiritual Growth #7 – “In Part” Love or Perfect Love

In Part or Full?

 

Courtesy D. Mam, 2014

Believers are to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44; 48); our neighbor in the same way we love ourselves (Matt. 19:19); and God (Matt. 22:37). However, Jesus gave Christians a more realistic way to measure love, and that’s by how he loved us (John 13:34)! The Lord’s love has been more than kind, generous, and patient—filled with grace, yes? Additionally, we’re to love the household of faith, who are our brothers and sisters in Christ (1 John 3:23; 4:21; 2 John 5, 6).

Yet, what’s the reality for most Christians with an “in part” type of love? We don’t really love “that annoying neighbor across the street”, do we? Rather, we avoid them if we can. What about that person who always seems to push our buttons, or who gets us angry or upset? We don’t love them, right? Also, we’ve made a few enemies in our lifetime, so we don’t love them either, do we? An “in part” love emerges from Christians who decide who we’re going to love based on how we feel about them. Really? No matter how we justify it, all Christians who do not love according to God’s command are lawbreakers who practice lawlessness! After all, whoever offends in one part of the law, offends in all parts (James 2:10). Bet you thought Scripture was referring to some other “lawless entity”, yeah?

Christians who love “in full” do not pick and choose who to love; rather, we obey the command and then leave the rest to God. Moreover, because we love the household of faith, we passed from death to life (1 John 3:14) and are not murderers, but have eternal life (1 John 3:15)! We are Christians whose love is made perfect in the Day of Judgment “because as he is, so are we in this world”. At that time, perfect love casts out fear because fear has to do with judgment; and there is no fear in love (1 John 4:17, 18).

Sadly, as more and more Christians abandon the command to love, they will be ruled by fear. Will you be found among them?

Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version, Cambridge 1769. Used by permission. All rights reserved.