Faith
1 Corinthians 13
“If I speak human or angelic languages but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.
And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs.
Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for languages, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end.
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 put aside childish things.
For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face.
Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.
Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:1–13 HCSB https://www.bible.com/72/1co.13.1-13.hcsb
Faith
So what does it mean to have faith?
Merriam-Webster.com defines Faith as something that is believed especially with strong conviction
When Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me. Don’t stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.””
Mark 10:14–15 HCSB. https://www.bible.com/72/mrk.10.14-15.hcsb
To me faith is the courage to see the task through to the end.
Sometimes, I just have to believe that God will provide some how, someway, someone or something to make this obstacle into an opportunity.
The needed resources will be available as required, not one moment sooner.
And when I have faith. The opportunity that arises is often not the choice I wanted but better than I could have expected.
Faith means that I have to take those first baby steps. To fall on my face and to realize that as long as I continue to skin my nose at least I am moving in the right direction.
Faith gives me the grit to push one more time.
Faith is like the little girl in the back yard digging into the fresh pile of manure. When asked why? She says, “with this much shit there has to be a pony here!”
Until next time…. Keep practicing!
Grace, mercy and peace to you and your house from God, our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit open our eyes, ears and heart to see God’s purpose for us today and everyday.
May the peace which surpasses all understanding keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
If you have a prayer request or concern please contact me at tom@tompenrod.com. I will add you to my daily prayer practice.
Copyright 2019 by Thomas L. Penrod International.
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