Living in the Spirit
October 2, 2022
Scripture Reading: Luke 17:5-10
The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you.
‘Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, “Come here at once and take your place at the table”? Would you not rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink”? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!”’
Faith is to be persuaded, to come to trust*.
Faith (4102/pistis) is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people. In short, 4102/pistis (“faith”) for the believer is “God’s divine persuasion” – and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence), yet involving it. The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know what He prefers, i.e. the persuasion of His will (1 Jn 5:4: for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. )*.
My book club is reading the book Sugar Birds by Cheryl Grey Bostrom. Anymore, I listen to most books, to lessen the strain on my eyes. I have been very busy recently and needed to find the time to read this book before our group meets to discuss it. I listen to the first chapter which was very sad, and I just laid it aside. I really did not want to return to it, but finally did. It is the story of life in families and communities where bad things happen to good people and where the strength to deal with that is in the gift of God’s faithfulness. The challenge lies in being able to come to that trust. There is a grandmother in the story who quietly prays without ceasing to intersect with the gift of God’s faithfulness.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. –1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of faith you share with us like the manna from heaven giving us enough faith when we need it. Amen.
*https://biblehub.com/greek/4102.htm
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.