These 50 days with Jesus will be based on II Peter 1:5-7: “For this very reason [the reason being that he has given us everything we need for life & godliness, vs 3], make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.”
So, faith is the foundation for the rest… the first building block. But as I contemplate faith this week, I am struck by its two aspects, belief and trust, and find trust the more dynamic. The verb, trust, can replace the word “faith” in many verses. It carries a lot of power and revelation. In the end, it is in the trust I struggle the most.
When the disciples said (Luke 18:8), “Increase our faith”… I think they really meant “increase our trust.” Try these verses on: “…if you have trust as small as a mustard seed…” [Matt 17:30] or “…I live by trust in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” [Gal 2:20b]
I’m just saying, trust is an issue for me and I believe, if I could really trust the Lord with all my heart [Prov 3:5], the rest (goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love) would come more easily. I would be leaning on Jesus and yet never feel off balance. To trust someone is a choice, usually based on experience. And if we have experienced betrayal, loss, and disappointment (among others), trust is broken. But in the end, to build trust requires a leap of … what else? … faith! The part of faith that is belief… the part that may not have any logic or reason. But once we make the first step on the path of trust, the rest come more easily.
Meditations from Zion 