Faith is not what you can do but what you can’t do. It’s not where you go but where you cannot go. Faith moves you towards the impossible, or it’s not faith at all.
How many biblical stories have you read whereby God sends his man or people to face impossible odds?
God’s missions are not missions unless they are impossible by human standards. But you’ll never know until your faith meets up with your obedience to his mission.
Belief in God is not only about his existence but more so about our obedience to his existence and his call on our lives.
If we cannot see the works of the Father, it is because we are too wrapped up in our own work, and yes, this can include “church work.” We may not need faith for our work, but we can only do God’s work by faith. Christian populism and “the power of positive thinking” has diminished faith to mere “tips and techniques” or following “principles” without a relationship to the Prince of Peace.
His work often makes us risk our comforts and, sometimes, even our safety. His will requires passionate courage to obey. Our work brings enslavement, sweat, and at times, depression and boredom. Many of us are killing ourselves for a paycheck.
If we believe and obey God and join him in his work, we will no longer live as enslaved people but as free men. “Wherever the Spirit of God is, there is freedom!” Freedom to move towards adventure and risk with God is core to walking by faith with him.
As noted Author, John Eldridge has penned;
“Asking God, how? …Is a faithless question.”
Obeying God and following his will, means that the “how” is already worked out by God. Trusting God with the unknown details and acting on his will without knowing how is the definition of faith.
God’s will for us must become as essential as eating food. To move in faith, we must become vitality dependent on God’s will and preplanned purpose for our lives.
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:34
“For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50
Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:23
Faith and obedience lead to Intimacy with both the Father and the Son. You can’t exercise faith apart from an intimate relationship with the Father and the Son.
If you try and do things apart from knowing God, you’ll be in danger of practicing lawlessness or unauthorized acts of whatever you call “righteousness.”
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing.” John 15:5
Find where God’s Spirit is working and go there quickly and passionately. It’s only there that you can do the impossible and find a real and meaningful life.
Ask yourself, do I need God to accomplish this? The answer may require you to do the impossible…
…That is your mission if you choose to accept it.
Call To Courage 