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Men of Integrity, Sep/Oct 2001
The Faith Growth Curve
Theme for the Week: Under Construction—Romans 7-8
Saturday, September 15
Q. Jesus chided His followers for having so little faith. What should this tell us?
A. Something very significant: faith can grow, no matter where we are on the growth curve. The disciples, realizing the smallness of their faith, appealed to Jesus directly: "Increase our faith" (Luke 17:5). Jesus responded with the analogy of the mustard seed, the smallest of seeds: faith even that small, he said, could move everything from mulberry trees to mountains, "and nothing will be impossible for you" (Luke 17:6; Matthew 17:20).
What's helped your personal faith to grow?
Five discoveries:
1. Faith is instilled in us as we see God in His vastness and majesty. It develops as we humble ourselves, reminding ourselves how desperately we need God moment by moment.
2. The Word of God is the seedbed of true faith. No investment will bring greater return than study of and meditation on God's Word. It's a prime catalyst for faith.
3. Faith helps us make our calling sure. If we're not where God's called us to be, it's an uphill battle to receive faith for our daily challenges. But when we're in God's calling for us, He'll be pleased, even eager, to give us faith in every situation.
4. Our work is a classroom for developing our faith. We need to begin and stay in faith instead of expending our best human efforts, hitting the wall, and only then turning to God.
5. Ultimately, this faith isn't ours. Like everything else of true value, it's a gift from God.
John Beckett is CEO of R. W. Beckett Corp., an Ohio heating system components firm.
Adapted from: Robert Banks and Kimberly Powell, Faith in Leadership (Jossey-Bass, 2000)
For your convenience, Faith in Leadership is available in the ChristianityToday.com bookstore.
Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today, Inc./Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.
September/October 2001, Vol. 4, No. 5
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Prayer for the Week |
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Thank You, Father, for working in my life to make Your purpose for me become reality.
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