In the unit of believe, the key concept was answering the question of what would it take to experience a bold and confident faith? I am going to answer this question based on what we have learned in class.
We had said that to have a bold and confident faith we must have an active faith and this begins with the humility to repent. Belief is the step following repentance, and we are invited to experience that confidence. However, to achieve this boldness we have to grow in our understanding. We have to change our thoughts to Christ's thoughts, we actually just need "new thoughts" according to Romans 12:1-2. To add to our confidence, we need to have reasoned belief. Belief in itself is not enough. Even Satan believes in God, so what does that say? It means that we need something more-we need reasoned belief. This looks like knowing the scriptures that we claim to base our lives upon as well as actively living out what we claim to believe. According to the parable of the sewer, unreasoned faith is like a plants without root-completely meaningless.
Our faith is meaningless if we are not growing and if we can not differentiate the right from wrong. Our hearts and actions should add up to what we believe, and currently I am wondering if others can see Christ living in me by the way I live my life. Otherwise, my faith is meaningless. Also, I am trying to work out whether or not I am growing, this is a stressed issue for me. I am worried because if I am not growing is it a fair question to see that I am not a true believer? I don't want this to be so, but honestly I don't know if I have seen a change. This is probably something I will talk about with my mentor-so that I may know for sure if I am growing, and if I am not, how can I grow? I do have interest in growing I really do, but I first need to work out where I am in my faith.
Ultimately, for me to experience the boldness and confidence of faith, I need to be growing, changing and developing. Also, I need to know if others can see me changing, developing, and changing otherwise- is what I claim to believe meaningless? Thanks for visiting and I hope to see you back for my next blog!
Esther, you asked a really great question: I wonder if others see Christ living in me? That is a wonderful question to ask. It shows you admire Christ and desire this. It is hard to measure change for ourselves, and it takes time. Ask your parents which fruit of the Spirit they have seen you grow in? Which one do you most desire?
ReplyDelete