Faith Comes by Hearing
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (ESV)
Why is it that children need to be both encouraged and admonished by their parents and teachers over and over again, in order for them to develop a healthy confidence in themselves and how they fit into society? Over and over again. Why is that, exactly?
Now that, if I may say so myself, is a very good question. Why can’t you just tell them something once and have it stick permanently? Anyone who’s been a parent knows the frustration of having to tell kids the same thing a million times! Aaaargh! Why don’t they just listen?!
Ha … so just imagine then how God feels with the likes of thee and me; the sense of frustration … Why don’t they just listen to me?
Well, that’s a great question Lord … why don’t we listen? The answer is … because we don’t listen.
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (ESV)
The answer for many of God’s people is two-fold. Firstly, they don’t ever open their Bibles and secondly, when they do (or when they hear a message like this one) they don’t receive God’s word into their hearts.
Yesterday we chatted about the dangers of allowing ourselves to be influenced by unbelievers in undermining our faith. Well, here’s the flip side of that coin – the power of listening to God, receiving His word into our hearts to strengthen and grow our faith.
How about you? What influences you more? Your unbelieving friends, the political nonsense that comes in on your social media feeds, the risqué shows you watch on Netflix … or the very word of God? That’s a sobering thought.
Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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