Faith – A Spiritual Gift?

Faith – A Spiritual Gift?

Too many of our judgements and decisions appear to be based solely upon the input our brains receive from the world.  Our senses also have been corrupted by what the world would have us believe.

Faith is a gift that God has given us.  Not something we can manufacture. 

Faith is the belief that what we hope for will assuredly happen.  It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see or perceive.

Perseverance is not giving up because we fail to see with our physical eyes. That physical evidence is not perceived or seen.

In the world physical evidence is presented and judgements made on that evidence.  Faith is evidence that many would deny because it is not physical in nature.  We are not to judge by our senses or physical evidence but by Faith and the belief it encompasses.

Prayer is a key component of Faith.  Continuous prayer.  Prayer is not a sign of little or weak Faith but rather a sign of persistent Faith.

When we become discouraged and loose Faith we are giving Satan the opportunity to accuse us and the world reason to revile us and not believe in what we believe and give witness to in our lives.  Actions and words do have importance in Faith.

Faith and prayer go hand in hand.  We pray, we trust, we believe, we speak, and we act in accordance with what God reveals to us without fear.  We believe in God who is master of all.  We reject Satan and man’s ways.  We do not fear the world for our Faith and prayer keep us in God’s care.  His world and kingdom are more important that the Satan driven world man has embraced.

Healing of the Deaf Mute Man (Mark 7:31-37)

Healing of the Deaf Mute Man (Mark 7:31-37)

What can we learn from this gospel?

Christ moved away from the crowd to avoid the distraction and the unnecessary publicity.  The healing in this story appears to be designed to evoke the co-operation of faith and to present the idea that, with faith, you will be open to the teachings of Christ.  Away from the interruption of a noisy and pressing crowd, quietly and privately, the man would be more attentive and receptive.

Christ showed humility as an example form of teaching, rather than being ostentatious/showy in healing.  Moving away from the crowd would indicate that only the believers, those with faith, followed and observed the healing.  Others would then be more likely to believe what they were told.

The story holds an important message in that it outlines the benefits and result of opening oneself to God’s teachings.  It also expresses that He is what humans should be – someone who does things well, to the best of their ability, who understands others, and forgives transgressions.

The man was in danger because he could not hear, physical death.  We are in danger when we do not hear God, spiritual death, which leads to eternal death.

Are we mute and deaf spiritually to God?  Do we seek to draw away from the crowd to listen and hear Him?  Do we faithfully act on His teachings and direction?  Christ often works out His purpose in spite of us and demonstrates God’s grace in granting us favor to honor our faith.