Romans 10:17 AMP
“So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ.”
Living a Christian life is fundamentally a journey of faith. Scripture emphasizes that without faith, it is impossible to please God, as those who approach Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. We have never seen God physically, so it requires faith to believe in His existence and in the Bible as His Word.
Faith is nurtured through hearing and believing God’s Word. One of the most profound gifts God has given humanity is the mind. Unfortunately, with the entrance of sin into the world, our minds and thoughts were corrupted. Proverbs states that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
Our thoughts shape our beliefs, and these beliefs translate into words because from the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. What we speak then turns into actions, and our actions shape the reality we live in, ultimately becoming our destiny. As followers of Christ, we are called to transform our thinking and not conform to the patterns of this world. This transformation happens through the renewal of our minds, allowing us to discern God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will for our lives.
The renewal of our minds occurs as we immerse ourselves in God’s Word, meditate on it, and apply it to our lives. When Joshua succeeded Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land, God instructed him to continually read the Law, meditate on it day and night, and carefully follow its instructions. The promise was that this practice would lead to success and prosperity.
Faith grows by hearing God’s Word. Once we hear it, we must meditate on it constantly, which renews our minds and strengthens our faith. Then we must act on what the Word instructs, even when our old beliefs challenge us. It is through action that our faith becomes alive, as James teaches that faith without works is dead.
Remember, when Jesus returned to His hometown, He could not perform many miracles, not because His power was lessened, but because the people lacked faith. Similarly, we might be active churchgoers yet miss out on God’s fullness due to insufficient faith.
Reflections
Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. What is your response each time you hear God’s Word?
How often do you meditate on God’s Word?
You believe that the Bible is the Word of God. Does your interaction and response to its teachings demonstrate this belief?
