Leading with Faith
Last week I wrote about how we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Of course, this is not a formula for self-aggrandizement in which we claim we can do whatever we want or achieve whatever we desire for our own glory.
Rather, the truth is that you and I can do whatever God calls us to do… no matter what the external circumstances may be.
How can I say this with such certainty? There are a number of reasons, but here are two of them. First, the Lord does not command us to do something that He will not enable us to do. Second, His definition of success looks far different than our worldly definitions of success.
If God states a truth, we believe it.
If God issues a command, we obey it.
If God makes a promise, we claim it.
Now don’t get all squirrely on me here. This is not a “name it and claim it” statement. Think about it. If God makes a promise, how long should we question him to see if He’s really being serious? God can handle our authentic questions. At the same time, we want to be careful to exercise faith and choose to believe that what God says is true, really is true. When we run into the limit of our faith, we can express a desire for the Lord to increase our faith in Him, just like the man in Mark 9:24 who said “I do believe! Help my unbelief.”
Consider these other two Scriptural examples of people in a faith-testing situation—Zechariah and Mary. One asked a question out of doubt. The other asked an authentic question. She was puzzled, but her heart was full of faith.
In Luke 1, beginning in verse 5, we read about the story of Zechariah serving in the Temple when the angel, Gabriel, appeared to him. Gabriel announced that Zechariah and his wife would have a son, and they were to name him John. But Zechariah and his wife were beyond the child-bearing years, and they had never been able to have children. So, Zechariah responded with what seemed like a very legitimate question: “How can I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” (Luke 1:18, HCSB)
We know that his question came from a place of doubt because of Gabriel’s response. He said, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.” (Luke 1:19-20, HCSB)
Six months later, Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce Jesus’ birth. When Gabriel told Mary that she would conceive and bear a son, she asked a similar question: “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?” (Luke 1:34, HCSB)
Again, we see from Gabriel’s response that Mary’s question came from a place of faith. Gabriel tells her how it will happen—by the Holy Spirit. He then gives her evidence of God’s ability by telling her that her cousin Elizabeth (wife of Zechariah) is pregnant, even in her old age! Mary responds with a faith statement: “I am the Lord’s slave. May it be done to me according to you word.” (Luke 1:38, HCSB)
A key distinction in their two responses is found in how they use the word ‘know.’ The word ‘know’ in Greek means “to know with absolute certainty, or to know fully and completely.” Zechariah asked how he could ‘know’ that Gabriel was telling the truth. Mary asked how she could get pregnant since she did not ‘know’ a man.
It seems Zechariah was asking for (or demanding?) something more than what God had given Gabriel to say. He wanted to know more before he believed. Mary’s question, on the other hand, came from a genuine sense of bewilderment because she knew how life works. She asked with faith and a willingness to serve even though she didn’t understand the details.
God does not ask us to turn off our brain. Yet He does ask us to lead with faith, trusting in His word over our own thinking.
Dear Saints, as you encounter opportunity, trials, opposition, anxiety, and more this week, remember God’s promises to you and respond to God with faith. Feel free to add a request for Him to strengthen your faith and reveal steps along the way. But don’t insist on understanding every step God has planned before you are willing to serve by faith. Rather, trust him and simply ask Him to reveal the next step.
In Christ, you can believe God’s truth, obey His commands, and claim His promises.
In Christ, you can do all things through Him who strengthens you.