I started these past few weekly words with Jude’s exhortation to earnestly contend for the faith that was once and for all delivered to the saints. As I’ve walked through these good words I have wanted to highlight ‘the’ faith. Not ‘A’ faith but ‘the’ faith that keeps us rooted and grounded in believing that Jesus is the son of God, who was delivered up for our justification and is now seated at the right hand of the Father waiting until his enemies are made a footstool. This Jesus is the one we look and long for. It is our testimony that we are citizens of heaven and aliens upon this earth, with eyes and hearts attached to a greater Kingdom, one wherein He rules as King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords.
This is ‘the’ faith that will hold us steady until the end. This is ‘the’ faith that will enable us to endure and give assurance that Jesus will find faith when he returns. This is ‘the’ faith that assaults and overcomes the works of darkness. This is ‘the’ faith that when tried, rejoices in the hope of the glory of God. This is ‘the’ faith that counts it all joy when me meet trials of any kind. This is ‘the’ faith that is tested and tried consistently throughout our lives on this earth. This is ‘the’ faith that is challenged and proven through temptations, tests, and trials……with the question asked, will you stay faithful to me, and then answered.
Three of the gospels tell the story of a rich young ruler coming to Jesus as a teacher and asking what he can do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tells him to keep the commandments and then begins to recite the ten. The rich young ruler responds with assurance that he has kept all of those - but still we find unwritten - the reality that those have not satisfied his heart with an assurance of eternal life that is possessed by ‘the faith’. Matthews gospel of the same story tells us he asks, ‘what do I lack’? So Jesus goes deeper, as he looks at him and loves him, brings forth the ‘one thing he lacks…..’.
In our daily pursuit to live righteously through our union with the Godhead, if we do not understand the love God has for us, the love of a Father that Jesus revealed to us, the love the Holy Spirit pours into our hearts then we will never subject ourselves to the discipline He gives in those places He finds lacking ‘the faith’ that endures.
Knowing, when Jesus looks at us he loves us. Knowing His love makes us safe and secure. Love opens our hearts to hear and receive.
Hebrews 12 teaches us about discipline. The one the Father loves he disciplines. If we are left without discipline we are not true sons and daughters, but since we are, we enter into this relationship of love, believing whom the Father loves he disciplines, and trust Him to do us only good. We don’t need to make things up, we know in the depths of our hearts when He is bringing us into a place of accountability for heart issues. We need no man to teach us for our heart condemns us.
If we won’t know and believe the love the Father has for us, we are destined to continue repeating the cycles of lack that reside in our hearts. We will still find Jesus looking at and loving us. Nothing will separate us from his love and this is a good spot to remember the prodigal son. He coming to himself, confessed His sin, and return to His Father who was watching and waiting.
I’ve said for many many years it is always a matter of faith - a heart that trusts God in and through all things to stay in union with Him.
He looks at the rich young ruler and loves him - discerning his greatest need for life and setting it before Him. Jesus’ very words were enough for the rich young ruler to walk forward with Him into ‘the faith’ He offered.
Hebrew’s exhorts, it is because of this great love he disciplines, that we might bring forth peaceful fruits of righteousness. Therefore, we are to lift up hands that hang down. We are to strengthen the weak knees and make straight paths for our feet so what is lame (lacking) may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
As our days grow darker, what and who we trust will continue to be revealed in us as He works to prepare His people for his return. It’s easy to assure yourself you are wired tight enough never to be moved, but again we only see this as it is tested and revealed. It is tested and revealed to us through His great love and for the purpose of healing what is lacking, unto life.
One final thought ~ Psalm 23 tells us when the Lord is our Shepherd, we lack nothing. Lack exists where we have moved from the paths of righteousness. It is only as we return (just like the prodigal son) to the bishop and overseer of our souls; the good Shepherd, we find restoration and rest; that is goodness and mercy with tables set before us in the presence of our enemies. His ways are always best and right for us.
Let us never lose sight of this as we continue to earnestly contend for ‘the’ faith that has been delivered to us and may the God of peace be with us all.