THOSE WHO KNOW THEIR GOD Part 31

“Those who know their God will be strong and do great things.” Dan 11:32

WHAT DO PEOPLE DO TO KNOW GOD?

Each year, around the 20th of December, we experience the darkest day of the year. I am always excited for the day immediately following because I know that things will be getting brighter and the days getting longer from this day forward. This is also true of what I feel about spring. When I see the trees budding, I know that all the greenery of summer will soon appear. Oh yes – green means growing! How exciting and how beautiful!

Similarly, I am always encouraged to think that I don’t have to stay at the current level of faith that I am at – my faith can grow! That is so exciting to me! I know that faith is the only thing that pleases God. Hebrews 11:6 God knows that unless we believe him, he cannot pour into us all that he longs to give us.

Apostle Paul, speaking to the church at Thessalonica, said, “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3-4

I love this! Apostle Paul was thanking God for them because their faith was growing more and more. Consequently, their love for one another was increasing. When our faith grows, so does the love of God within us. The faith and love that the Thessalonians experienced were growing during a time of persecution and trial. How often this is the case. There is something about going through difficult things that forces us to run to God with more surrender and more faith.

1Pet 1:7-9  These (trials) have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Just as fire refines gold, so your faith that is purified through trials becomes a declaration of God’s value and worth in your life. Your faith is what displays the majesty of God’s love and power! This is why God is so excited about your faith growing! So, even though you don’t see God physically, you continue to be more excited and filled with joy because you are growing deeper and deeper into the revelation of what God has known about you all along! Wow!

Speaking to the Corinthian church, apostle Paul said, “Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. 2 Cor 10:15-16  

My dear friend, as your faith continues to grow, the true glory of being a Christian begins to fill your being. There is nothing in this world that can compare! The purest and most valuable gold cannot compare to the value of your faith because your faith taps you into who God has declared you to be! Oh, that we would get excited and forcefully press forward in the truth that our…

FAITH CAN GROW