What does Faith look like?

Luke 17:5-6

Faith is something we all use each and every day, it has little to do with a belief system about God, it has more to do with a white line down a two-lane road, or the light switch in your home.  Let me explain, we put our trust that a white line will keep the other driver from coming over into our lane and having a head-on collision, and most of the time it works.  But if it only worked 60% of the time it would not be the object of your faith, it would be Russian roulette.  The light switch in our home is something we trust, we believe in, and it almost always works, but I bet you have little understanding of why.  When you flip the switch off, it breaks the circuit and interrupts the flow of electricity.  A basic light switch has two terminals and sometimes a ground terminal.  

I believe faith in God and light switches have much in common, God is someone we trust, we believe in Him, and unlike the light switch that sometimes does not work, God is the same today, tomorrow, and forever.  We often disconnect from Him but He never disconnects from us.  And like our lack of knowledge of how the light switch works, we share our lack of understanding of God who lives outside of time, and who has been to the beginning and end of time.

So the question is often asked, how can we “Increase our Faith,” in fact that is what the disciples were asking of Jesus and you may be surprised at His answer:   “And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”  (Luke 17:6 ESV) You may be asking what does that faith look like and why do we not see it in more followers of Jesus?  One of the best definitions about this kind of faith was from Carroll B. Ray Jr., his quote: “It is living life as if Jesus tells the truth.”  Do you recall the rich young man that came to Jesus asking, “what must I do to inherit eternal life”?  And Jesus gave him a list of things he must do and do you recall his reply?  I have those covered, and then Jesus said, that’s good, now go and sell all that you have and give to the poor and come follow me.  Luke 18:23 gives the type of faith the rich man had; “But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.”  The rich guy is not unique, many a follower of Christ lets financial processions take the place of having God increase their faith, and do you struggle with your stuff?

Do you recall Jesus feeding the five thousand, and after they followed him, they were going to try and take Jesus by force and make him their king.  The reason is clear He had fed them and they would have fit in our culture that looks to the government for its handouts.  “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”  (John 6:26-27 ESV)  Now if you ponder on the question ask earlier; “what does that faith look like”?  Listen and ask the Holy Spirit to allow you to grab this and act on it.  First, the question from the crowd, “Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”  (John 6:28-29 ESV)  Just act like Jesus tells the truth, and be a follower.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice