WHO YA GONNA TRUST?
I like the music of the Zac Brown Band. However, there is a line in one of his songs that has spurred this blog. The album is You Get What You Give, the song is As She's Walking Away. The lyrics that caught my attention I will put in bold - "...ask her to dance, go on son you might fall down on your face, roll the dice and have some faith...".
So, there it is - chance and faith - they are not the same. Chance is something that is just happenstance. It cannot be partnered with anything else that may lead to it or predict it. In fact, dictionary.com defines it as - the absence of any cause of events that can be predicted, understood, or controlled. Whereas someone who has faith can usually be partnered with their supportive actions or deeds. "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" – James 2:14 "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." – James 2:17
Chance is unstable and has no partner to help you rely on it. So, that leaves faith. What is faith? "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." – Hebrews 11:1 "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 "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." – Romans 10:17
You know the light is going to come on when you flip that room switch to the "on" position. You are "sure of what you hope for" - light - because you are "certain of what you do not see" - electricity.
Oh, to have the faith of the royal official (John 4:43-53). He was sure of what he hoped for - Jesus healing his near-death son. He was certain of what he did not see - miraculous power was in Jesus and had been displayed previously. Now, Jesus grants his request, even though the official's son lay on his bed at least a day's walk away. The next words arrest my heart, mind, and spirit something fierce - "The man took Jesus at his word and departed." - John 4:50 About a day later on the road to his son, the official's servants met him with news that his son was healed at the exact time Jesus has spoken the healing words over his son. Faith was put into action by taking Jesus at his word. Not chance.
Another example of choosing faith is found in the meeting of Jesus and the Centurion. When the Centurion explained his faith to Jesus - that Christ's physical presence was not required in the room to heal his servant, that Jesus was one of special authority - Scripture says, "he [Jesus] was astonished". That's quite a feat. Jesus continued, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith." - Matthew 8:10 Wow! What a compliment! Maybe I can learn something from the Centurion and the Royal Official.
Chance doesn't have a chance when placed next to faith and deeds that support one's faith. When it comes to your life and especially your walk with God don't leave it to chance. Be sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see. How are you gonna be certain of what you do not see? Trust. Chance comes with no partner. Faith comes with God. Who ya gonna trust?
So, there it is - chance and faith - they are not the same. Chance is something that is just happenstance. It cannot be partnered with anything else that may lead to it or predict it. In fact, dictionary.com defines it as - the absence of any cause of events that can be predicted, understood, or controlled. Whereas someone who has faith can usually be partnered with their supportive actions or deeds. "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" – James 2:14 "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." – James 2:17
Chance is unstable and has no partner to help you rely on it. So, that leaves faith. What is faith? "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." – Hebrews 11:1 "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 "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." – Romans 10:17
You know the light is going to come on when you flip that room switch to the "on" position. You are "sure of what you hope for" - light - because you are "certain of what you do not see" - electricity.
Oh, to have the faith of the royal official (John 4:43-53). He was sure of what he hoped for - Jesus healing his near-death son. He was certain of what he did not see - miraculous power was in Jesus and had been displayed previously. Now, Jesus grants his request, even though the official's son lay on his bed at least a day's walk away. The next words arrest my heart, mind, and spirit something fierce - "The man took Jesus at his word and departed." - John 4:50 About a day later on the road to his son, the official's servants met him with news that his son was healed at the exact time Jesus has spoken the healing words over his son. Faith was put into action by taking Jesus at his word. Not chance.
Another example of choosing faith is found in the meeting of Jesus and the Centurion. When the Centurion explained his faith to Jesus - that Christ's physical presence was not required in the room to heal his servant, that Jesus was one of special authority - Scripture says, "he [Jesus] was astonished". That's quite a feat. Jesus continued, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith." - Matthew 8:10 Wow! What a compliment! Maybe I can learn something from the Centurion and the Royal Official.
Chance doesn't have a chance when placed next to faith and deeds that support one's faith. When it comes to your life and especially your walk with God don't leave it to chance. Be sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see. How are you gonna be certain of what you do not see? Trust. Chance comes with no partner. Faith comes with God. Who ya gonna trust?
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