November 11, 2024 -Faith and Belief

EZEKIEL 23:1-49

HEBREWS 10:18-39

PSALM 109:1-31

PROVERBS 27:13

One Year Bible Audio & Daily Reading (oneyearbibleonline.com)

Hebrews 10: 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

In church today pastor Rick encouraged everyone to write a statement of faith. As I thought about that I started jotting down things that I believe to be true about God. Then I realized that there is a difference between what I believe and what beliefs I live in faith in. I think that belief is more factual. I believe that I have good brakes on my car because I just had new ones put on. But faith influences how we live our lives. To put my faith in the belief that my brakes are good I have to drive without worry about if I will be able to stop. I don't drive slow and test my brakes all the time to make sure they are working. We need to walk in the full assurance of faith that we have been set free from our sin and have been washed clean. Holding unswervingly to that hope starts with faith in His faithfulness. For me walking in the faith of this assurance is being able to not hold onto the guilt of my sinful past. It means looking forward to Christ and what He has planned for me instead of looking back at my sin. It means that when He calls me to do something like lead youth group and bible study, write a blog, plan organize and speak at a women's conference I can walk into it knowing He who is faithful will walk me through it. I don't have to feel unworthy to be used by Him because He has washed away my sinful past and now lives with me and in me and enables me to do anything that He calls me to. I am worthy only because He is worthy.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

This is another part of walking in faith. We will help each other walk in faith as we encourage one another toward love and good deeds. I think I may share this scripture in my announcement about our connect group. It can be easy to allow other things to keep us from meeting together or keep us from joining into a small group or attend a fellowship event but instead of making avoiding fellowship a habit we should prioritize fellowship. Every day we are a day closer to Jesus' return and that is a belief we should be living by. Sadly, it is the one that I think I struggle with living by the most.