Where is your faith?

In Luke 8:25, Jesus asks the disciples, "Where is your faith?"   To be fair, the disciples had just been "rescued" from a storm in the middle of a lake.  A storm, so they thought, we going to take their lives.  Jesus asks the question because they had -as they often did - missed that He is God and that they had nothing to fear.   Resulting in the question: 

Where is your faith?

I believe Jesus would ask us this exact same question today - Where is your faith?   How would we respond?   Given our actions, could we honestly answer that our faith is in Him?   Look around, we don't have to look for to see that our faith is largely in other people, processes, laws, government, jobs, and spouses.   We place our faith in anything and everything but God.   

Don't get me wrong, I don't believe that anyone can live without faith.   The difference is largely in where we place our faith.   Face it.   The difference between Christians and non-Christians is not that one has faith and the other doesn't.   It is where we place our faith - though if we looks at many Christians posts on social media - I think an argument could be made that a large number of Christians have also misplaced their faith.   

Are we spending our time in prayer and study of God's Word looking for answers?   Are we calling out to God to come and save us (all of us - not just those who believe as we do) or are we:

• spending time sharing / making inappropriate posts on social media; or 
• searching out evidence in the news/media demonstrating that "they" are wrong, supporting "we" are right?;  or 
• pointing out other items demonstrating how those we disagree with are wrong - while ignoring the actions of others or even our own actions may be equally as wrong.  

Do any of these items really represent how we would want to be treated or demonstrate the love of Jesus in any way?   Didn't Jesus indicate that the greatest two commandments were:

Matthew 22:37-40: And He said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.   This is the great and foremost commandment.   The second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments depend the whole law and the prophets."

Based on our actions, can we really say that our faith is where it belongs?   If we answer honestly, I think many of us will see that there really isn't an obvious difference to non-believers between Christians and non-Christians.   No wonder we are called out for our hypocrisy!   

If we are honest with ourselves, we as Christians will quickly admit that not many of us really are that interested in practicing what we preach.   Not many of us are willing to put the work in that demonstrates our faith.   If we did that, then we wouldn't have any time for other things that distract us from what our real priority should be - God.   

Where is your faith?

We quickly spend our time chasing after idols and other distractions provided by this world.   "Idols!?!?!  I don't worship idols!"   Before you commit yourself to that statement, stop and consider that while an idol is generally considered to be an object of worship, that and idol can also be something that captures a large portion of our time/attention.   These things can be our jobs, families, video games, sports, and various other causes can be just as easily considered to be a form of idolatry as they take our focus away from God.   In them becoming idols, we may start doing things through our own efforts and understanding vs. demonstrating any faith in God.   Apart from God, we are severely undercutting our ability to do anything or are putting our faith in the wrong place as faith placed outside of Jesus doesn't work.   

John 15:4-5 "Remain in Me and I will remain in you.  For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from Me.   Yes, I am the vine and you are the branches.  Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will product much fruit.  For apart from me, you can do nothing."

What if instead of placing our faith in people and processes, things that will ultimately fail and disappoint us, we instead placed our faith in Jesus?   What if we started working and actually obeying Christ's teachings and loved each other?   What if in doing so, we started looking out for each other?   What if, instead of depending on others to do the work of taking care of "the least of these" we took some responsibility and did some of the work ourselves vs. just talking about it?   Wouldn't the world be a better place?   Wouldn't we actually draw some positive attention to Christ's message?   Wouldn't we become the change we all so desperately wish to see in the world?   This isn't something that is impossible.   Philippians 4:13 tells us "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."   

So, how do you answer?

Where is your faith?

Ramblings......

I've take the day off from work today.   As I am sitting on the coach waiting on it to be time head into the events of the day, I keep trying to occupy myself with reading and other games that I play on my phone/tablet.   I keep going in a circle - reading/playing/reading/playing - mostly trying to get away from the thoughts rambling around in my head.   I've finally decided to give in and sit down and write them out as that seem to be what I am being led to do at this moment.

The world is so overcome with struggle.   Everyone is chasing after something.   To get out of debt, a better house, an education, a better job, or just trying to pay the bills and keep food on the table.   However, if we are honest with ourselves, we are all looking and digging for something.   At the heart of what we are looking for is to be loved and accepted - not because of what we have or can do for someone else - but for what we are.   We have an internal yearning to receive exactly the type of love that Jesus provides for all of us, but when it comes to Jesus, we are too concerned about what our friends or family's reaction will be to us acknowledging Jesus that we do everything we can to run away from Him.   At the root of it, we let fear stand between us and a lasting relationship with Christ - despite God telling us repeatedly to be "strong and courageous."    Joshua 1:9 - I command you - be strong and courageous!  Do not be afraid or discouraged.  For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

For those of us that acknowledge Jesus, we tend to do so on our own terms.   Rather than letting go and fully relying on Jesus to come into our lives and provide for us, dieing to our own desires and living for God, we tend to let our desires and cultural influences shape the truth God provides.    Instead of us allow God to refine and shape us in His perfect image - we use our desires to shape God into our image.   How much we all are missing out on because we can't let go of our own selfish wants?   How much of an impact could Christains make on the world if we let go and actually let God lead the way?   How much do we let our own insecurities and perceived weakness hold us back.   What if we followed Paul's example and let go?  What is we all let God's power work in us?   2 Corinthians 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

How many Christians who have the ability to profess God's word and lead other's to Christ neglect to do so?   How many of us believe that the "Great Commission" is only for missionaries?   Matthew 28:18-20 says - Jesus came and told His disciples, "I have been given complete authority in Heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."   How many of us pray each day that the Lord would use us to lead others to Christ?   I think we have all missed out on the fact that Jesus simply directs us to "Go".  He doesn't say where or how far.  He doesn't even say that we will come back.   He simply says to "... Go and make disciples....." Yet many of us can't be bothered to get off the couch and cross the street to share the gospel with our neighbors or even take notice of someone in need of assistance as we walk down the street or shop at the grocery store or market.

There's so much more that is on my heart and in my head right now.   However, this is all I can write conherently right now, but I just have this unshakable feeling and concern that we have watered down Christianity to the point that in many ways it isn't what Jesus intended.   We have simply become too comfortable.