FAITH: A SCARCE COMMODITY

Tuesday, 26th July 2016

2 Thessalonians 3: 1-5 (NKJV)

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you,

2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.

5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

Apostle Paul, in his second letter to the church in Thessalonica, spoke out of his experience saying: NOT EVERYONE HAS FAITH. Obviously, he was not talking about the heathens or those outside the church. It was within the context of a Church and possibly in reference to professing Christians. Heb.11:1 defines faith as being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. And in v. 6 we are told “that without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him, must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

The question before us is: how many of us actually believe in God? How many of us believe the Scriptures? How many of us believe in what we profess? For instance, we talk about the imminence of rapture; yet, we lack urgency and passion for preaching the Gospel to the unsaved. We concentrate so much on investments on earth and building of numerous mansions while the task of preaching the Gospel, which is the main priority of the Church, is hampered by lack of funds. We talk like people who know there is heaven and yet live like those who do not believe that they are going there. Something must be wrong. We may have joined the faithless generation unknowingly. We need to cry unto the Lord for a restoration of faith; faith that will shape our lives and fit us for the kingdom.

Prayer: Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.