Power of Faith

Ephesians 3:20-21 English Standard Version

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

The day after yesterday’s devotional was written, two weeks ago, this was Biblegateway’s verse of the day. This may not seem important to anyone but me in this moment. I understand that but over time the release of God’s Word into my life by others has touch me in ways that are more than what I asked or thought.

The Word has the power to touch us as individuals so clearly that we know that God is at work in our lives. We are not left alone to our own devices.

Job 5:12 English Standard Version (ESV) He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.

We all want to be successful in service to our Lord. Many times we have to wait for the fruit to appear and it might seem like we have missed something, some opportunity. The truth is that God is at work in us all the time to meet our needs in ways we might not have realized we needed.

When I try to be cleaver it never works out as I would hope. That is God frustrating my own devices. Being cleaver, being cutesy, is childish and I should be more mature than that.

1 Corinthians 13:11 English Standard Version (ESV) When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

In comparison to our Thrice Holy God, I am a child. I stand in awe of His Glory, of His Majesty, of His Holiness.

Praise God for the power of faith that He has place in each one of us.

Freedom

Galatians 5:1,6 English Standard Version

1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

We should look at the issue of circumcision as abstinence, giving up sin. It is a fasting of anything and everything that keeps us from being in Christ. Abstinence doesn’t work, only faith working through love keeps us in Christ, our “hold fast”.

One of the interesting issues of freedom is that we cannot understand or appreciate freedom until we have lost it. If we only look at freedom as having the ability to choose for ourselves, we have lost the true meaning of freedom.

What we choose defines our freedom.

Hosea 8:13 English Standard Version (ESV) As for my sacrificial offerings, they sacrifice meat and eat it, but the Lord does not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.

Egypt is the symbol of slavery, bondage.

Romans 7:23 English Standard Version (ESV) but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

The battlefield of sin is in our minds. If we willfully sin, we should expect the chastening of the Lord. There is a difference between sin of ignorance and willful denial of obedience of faith.

The Lord can and does call us to obey by faith but in that call, we still have the right to choose to obey or deny.

Galatians 5:13 English Standard Version (ESV) For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Again we repeat, “faith working through love.” Gal. 5:6