The Pursuit of God - Day 22

lhopeatl · Site Admin Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 66

Operational Faith

pesoj · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 46 Location: suwanee

Seeing = Gaze of Eyes to World
Faith = Gaze of Soul to God

Faith is practical, not theoretical. Its contour can be seen, but its contents can only be unlocked by practice (from the soul). Faith goes out while seeing goes in.

Sin has filtered our perception. Faith in Christ cleanses our scopes and gives a clearer view of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. Little by little faith makes me see clearer and clearer.
_________________
J O

Breakitdown_Kev · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 31

This chapter further on elaborates the nature of Faith that we should consider toward God Himself. We can be saved by believing, as simply put by the author in this chapter. It is not by attending church every sunday. It is not by praising songs and crying out loud every day. It is by putting faith in God and His Son for all that they have done and will continue to do in this world. Also, it mentions that one must gaze toward God with deep heart to have true faith because it might just be superficial for one to claim that he has faith, but inside, his heart will tell the truth and nothing but the truth.

ezrakim · Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 33 Location: ATL

Dear God,
Can you see my slowing down.
I am not as energized in spirit as before.
Father, I believe in Your covenent and everything; that I am happy for.
However, my heart doubts not the fact that you saved me from my sins, but the fact that I am able to go on without falling down.
Pick me up when I fall.
Wipe my tears when I cry.
If I shout hear my voice.
Cover my face and let me hear your voice.
I am struggling because I am physically exauhsted, and you must see it.
Fahter, I need your help. I am walking with my faith alone.
Now, I need Your energy.. please be with my life.
Be with my works so that I may do only what is yours.
_________________
I am wholly YOURS!

hey_min · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 27

"It is right that you should begin again every day. There is no better way to finish the spiritual life than to be ever beginning."

"Yet, He is willing to make us like Him, if we desire it."
Yes God wants us to be like Him. So we need to pray and have faith in Him for being like Him.

"Believing, then, is directing the heart's attention to Jesus."
Amen.

samkim · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 21

Operational Faith.
From this ch. i realized alot of faith and then actions. the story of Moses and the Israelites and their disobedience to God. God brouigth down serpents and through faith moses delivered them from the serpents. Jesus is the perfect example of actions through faith. he overcame all struggles and pain by taking actions with faith. Faith can help someone to overcome all obstacles.

prettymcuhdana · Joined: 16 Sep 2007 Posts: 22

When I was reading that part about serpents that were sent unto Israel, I thought about this one read in the bible from last year. It said that we look see God in reverent fear. I of course found this difficult because I respected Him, loved Him, but did not fear Him. Someone can be trained to fear I suppose. I guess I never saw God in a fearful way because I rarely read the parts of Scriptures that speaks of Him angry.

I liked the difference pointed out in looking and believing. I had a vivid flashback of the Polar Express where the man that lived on top of train creepily tells the kid, "Seeing is Believing." Well it isn't. Sometimes, I think it would make it easier for me to believe by seeing but I'm glad it's not always like that.

There are little signs and hints God drops in our lives that we push aside or never really take the time to read into, but they are there. Sometimes you notice too late, but that's just another way of knowing that He is always there. It's comforting and makes you want to believe furthermore.