Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
 From Doubt to Faith

James 1:1-18


The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Why do the most dangerous vehicle accidents occur at highway intersections? Because it’s a place where some key decisions have to be made. It’s when you have a choice between slowing down or accelerating, changing lanes, turning right or left, etc. Similarly, life is full of choices at every juncture. We often come to the crossroads in our life when some key decisions have to be made. We have take these decisions based on the human aspects – processing the visible data available to us and spiritual aspects – believing in God’s promise for us. If we make the wrong decisions then we will suffer through the consequences of those decisions for the rest of our lives. As humans, we don’t like to be wrong and disappointed with our decisions. In spite of God’s promise that "He will never leave you nor forsake you," we begin to doubt the path that God wants to lead us and try to choose the path that is easier for us and contrary to God’s will and purpose in our life.

Abraham met God, who informed him that he would have a son from whom a mighty nation would arise. Yet, when Abraham's life was in danger (going through the crossroad experience in his life), he lied in order to save himself from Abimelech, although he knew God's promise of a son had not yet been fulfilled. However, Abraham would go on to become a man of great faith and is listed in the Bible's Faith Hall of Fame (Hebrews 11). In fact, if there's an MVP in that Hall of Fame, it's Abraham. How did Abraham achieve this? I would like to highlight 2 ways to get from Doubt to Faith:

Don’t Give the Enemy Any Room:
We don’t wake up in the morning and say to ourselves, "Today I am going to doubt…" No, doubt moves into a vacuum, it takes over when we don’t do the right things. If we don’t keep our mind filled with faith, we will be constantly assailed by doubts. Ephesians 4:27 "And do not give the devil a foothold." The Greek word is "topos." It emphasizes that we can actually give ground in our lives to satanic control. If you’ve got a negative attitude, an attitude that says "I don’t believe" in any way, then you’ve given the enemy room to whisper thoughts of doubt in your head.
Stand Firm on God’s Word: God’s Word is the ultimate answer to get from Doubt to Faith. When the doubt monster comes in and tries to get you down, go to the Word of God. John 20:31 teaches us that - These words are written that you may believe and not doubt. These words are written to drive out doubt from your heart. These words are written to overcome unbelief and strengthen faith as you struggle against doubt. These words are written, yes, the words of the Scriptures, the Bible, to transform us from doubters to believers – transform us from doubt to faith.
Prayer: As we go through the crossroads of our life, please give us the wisdom to make the right choices and decisions that will fulfill Your will for us in our life. Amen

Thought for the day: Unbelief gives into doubts, excuses doubt and finally defends doubting as a virtue of the rational mind. Faith in God fights doubts!



Soji Scariah, St. Paul's MTC, Dallus

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more