Hebrew 11:1 (HCSB) - "Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen."
The Greek word that we translate as faith is pistis. The root word pistis is derived from is peitho which means to persuade or be persuaded. Another way of translating it is to come to trust or faith. In essence, the word pistis means to be divinely persuaded. Faith (pistis) is always received from God and never generated by our own efforts. In other words, I can't make myself have any more faith. This truth is evident in Ephesians 2:8-9 (HCSB) where Paul writes, "For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift, not from works, so that no one can boast." (emphasis is my own) In other words, our saving grace is from the faith that God instilled and gifted to us. So, after studying the background of this word, here's how I apply it today.
First of all, Abraham, Moses, and those others that we read about in Scripture didn't become such strong men of faith overnight. Let's remember a few of their journeys. Moses told God, when he was called, that He wasn't a good speaker. Gideon kept throwing the fleece out due to uncertainty of what God told him to do. Joseph spent his developmental years as a slave and a prisoner. There are many other stories about how faithfulness was built in each of those listed in the Hall of Faith. For me, that gives me hope! God can still use me to impact people in a way these men in the Hall of Faith did, but I have to realize that it doesn't happen overnight! Faith is God's gift to me, and my job to seek this gift on a daily basis.
Secondly, I have to be faithful in the little things. Let's look at Joseph again...he could have easily turned his back on God when he was sold into slavery by his brothers. He could have turned his back again after finding himself in prison. However, Joseph chose to be faithful with where God had him. The lesson I learn from this is that I have to be faithful with where God has planted me. It's easy for me to dream about all the "BIG" things I hope to do for God and in His name, but, when I do that, I am susceptible to discontentment and discouragement because I tend to feel like God isn't using me in the best way I think that He can. In other words, I want to play God for my life, which is pride...plain and simple. I have to be faithful in the context that God has me in. I have to minister to those that He puts in my path, and, if I'm faithful in that, then God is using me in a way that He desires. If God's desire is to use me in small ways for the rest of my life, then it's my job to be faithful to that calling. God calls some to do the small things and others to do bigger things. The small, country church pastor with an attendance of 40 people is just as important as the mega-church pastor who has 5,000 people in his congregation. Bloom where you are planted.
Finally, I have to continually put myself in situations where faith is required. If there is ever a time where I feel comfortable and relaxed, with regards to my faith, then I'm not in a good place spiritually. I struggle with this one sometime. As I look at my life, I have a great job which allows me the luxury of not worrying about how I'm going to put food on the table or worry about supplying for the needs of my family. I have also surrounded myself with wonderful, supportive Christian friends. I thank God everyday for what He has provided for me and my family. However, it would be easy for me to put my life on cruise control and coast into retirement. As I look objectively at my life, there are many areas in which faith isn't required on a daily basis. I would argue that this isn't a good place to be in spiritually. If my faith isn't constantly tested, then how can it grow. It's easy for faith to grow in trying times, in times of struggle or trial, but when things are going well, how do I grow my faith? My only response to that is prayer and reading Scripture. I read about these men of faith in the Bible who were kings and leaders of nations, who were financially secure and had all the comforts of life, but their faith was continually tested and continually grown. Then, I read Scriptures like Matthew 7:7-8 (HCSB), "Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searched finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." My conclusion upon studying this and reading what God says in His Scripture is this, my faith can only be improved by God giving it to me. In order for God to gift this to me, I have to ask and be receptive to the parameters by which He chooses to give it to me. I can't ask for faith and have guidelines by which I'm willing to receive it. I have to ask God for it and prepare myself for the journey that He will set before me.
Put simply...the key to long term faithfulness (the kind of faith to move mountains) is to be faithful today with the tasks God has set before you. For some that might be turning the TV off early and having a conversation with your spouse. For someone else, that might be giving more than you've ever given. For others, it might be moving your family to another country to serve as missionaries. In each of these instances, the faith that is required is the same...you have to say yes to what God is calling you to do today. Then, perhaps, one day God will use each of us to move mountains.
