Define, Refine, Renew Your Faith

You’ve been defining what it means to be a person of faith for some time. No doubt your concept of faith has changed over the years, grown and matured as you have witnessed more closely how it works. You may even be in a place where you feel comfortable with your faith just as it is. You don’t need to add to it, discuss it further, or renew it because you like it just as it is. If that’s the case, that’s really awesome, but I would still ask you to read on and ponder some of these thoughts from the writer of 2 Peter 1:5-7.

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness: and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

I don’t know about you, but for me this list opens up a lot of doors and windows. It reminds me that my personal faith is a good thing, but so what? So what am I going to do with that faith that makes a difference to anyone else? Well, here’s a laundry list of things we can do. The first step focuses on goodness. You may have to put goodness on your own scale to see how you measure up, and one thing that will help is knowledge. Why do you need knowledge about faith? Isn’t faith just something you have or you don’t?

Well, maybe, but then if you have an interest in other things, let’s say football, or cooking, don’t you spend some time trying to learn more about those things? Knowledge about things you have an interest in, gives you a better perspective, an expanded view. The more you understand about your faith, the more you’ll work hard to live your faith. Self-control, perseverance, and godliness will come into view in ways you may not have noticed them before.  Okay, so faith isn’t a one time deal, or even a one size fits all. It’s a dynamic, living, amazing attribute of your life that has one divine purpose. It’s meant to open your eyes to brotherly love, seeing God’s hand at work in people everywhere, in every lifestyle and culture. It is not limited. It does not have a single bias because it’s based on real love, the kind God has for you and me.

God doesn’t stop loving you because you fail to measure up, or because you don’t practice your faith! He has loved you from your first breath because He knows you and His knowledge of you gives Him faith in you. He sees your goodness, your hard work, and your heart that overflows with kindness. His love will define, refine, and renew your faith.

It’s a new day. Rise and shine dear ones!