“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
Without faith! The Bible announces that without faith no one can please God. Notice that this verse does not state a difficulty, but an impossibility.
True Faith and a right relationship with God cannot exist without the compliment of the other. One cannot walk with God genuinely and forthrightly without faith, for real faith indicates that the heart fully belongs to God’s. While the practice of faith may have the appearance of the good things of God, if one’s heart is not right before God all such acts are indeed of the flesh. Augustine once wrote, “works not rooted in God are splendid sins.” The writer of Hebrews lends a very positive example of this truth (in Hebrews 11:5): “by faith Enoch was taken up, for before he was taken up, he had given evidence that he was pleasing to God.” Faith was the foundation of his life that pleased God, and his right relationship with God was proven in how God took him up.
Matthew 8:10 reveals that Jesus marveled at the amazing faith of the Roman Centurion:
“When Jesus heard this, He was amazed and said to those following Him, ‘Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith’.”
Mark 6:6 also describes Jesus as marveling, but in this instance to the converse:
“Jesus marveled at their lack of faith.” (Mark 6:6)
The idea of marvel can indicate one who is astonished as well as amazed. Jesus was astonished at the absence of faith. Why this negative appraisal? Take consideration of the full story (Mark 6:1-6):
Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he marveled at their unbelief.”
Jesus was not welcomed in His own hometown, for His deity was not taken seriously by those who knew Him best. And, Jesus marveled at their lack of faith. In contrast to the Centurion’s amazing faith, who had but a small element of understanding Jesus, there were those who knew the fullness of the truth (both from present revelation and past prophecies) but failed in faith.
Without faith, one cannot please God. The key term, “without,” represents the staggering nature of this challenge. On this day, and always, do not get caught without. Regardless of what you think you may know in fundamentals of faith, do not go forward without faith!
In most of our lives, we begin each day with the routine and necessary discipline of not being without (not without my ID, my keys, my phone, etc.). How much more necessary it becomes to make certain we are not without faith – meaning, not without the priority of faith over all things in our lives. Consider the following steps of going forward each day in faith:
- – Begin the day resolved that many opportunities in your schedule will be the occasion to exercise your faith. Resolve this now.
- – Be ready to exercise true Christ-centered faith in your conversations, your thoughts, your plans, and your decisions.
- – Be intentional in your faith. As difficult as it may seem to stay the course God desires, by faith trust Him to see you through. Live as if He already has seen you through your day, for His presence in you remains absolute! You can do “this” (whatever “this” would be for you today), for He has gone before you to make a way. By faith, live each step of your day in this reality.
So today, go forward in faith!
Tomorrow, some will awaken to the truth they themselves did not practice faith today. Some will awaken with regrets of what was spoken, thought, or acted upon because of not acting in faith. But for you, plan now to go forward with faith. Don’t be caught without. And rejoice that when we ask, God gives liberally. Ask Him for faith to please Him today. Tomorrow pray the same. Before you realize it, faith will have become your way of living more than simply wishful thinking.
So today, go forward in faith.
Blessings,
Ken
