OPPORTUNITY TO GROW
We hear a lot these days about “sharing your faith” but do we hear much about “growing your faith”? The statement of sharing faith encourages us to tell others the good news of Jesus Christ. Faith is being assured of things hoped for and convinced of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) What does the Bible say about “growing your faith”?
In many of the letters recorded in the Bible written by the Apostle Paul, he begins with the confidence that Jesus Christ had called him and sent him to carry forth the gospel. He had the assurance the message he was giving had originated and been directed by God. He was able to follow the mandate to “go into all the world . . .” (“share your faith”) because of the confidence of Jesus Christ calling him and commissioning him to proclaim Christ crucified.
The book of Romans begins with the assurance Paul had that Jesus had called him to be an apostle and set him apart to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Paul shares an example in Romans for “growing your faith”. We understand from Romans 10:17 faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. The primary way to grow your faith is to “hear” God’s word. Notice the word is not “read” God’s Word, but to “hear” it. One definition of the word “hear” is to listen to with favor, assent, or compliance. Are we listening to God’s Word with favor, assent, or compliance?
Romans 4:20 states Abraham grew strong in faith by believing the word of God he had heard. The opportunity for faith to grow for Abraham came by his willingness to hear and believe what God said. Abraham “heard” God. He listened with favor, assent, and compliance to all God said. Abraham grew strong in faith because he heard the word of God.
When we take the time to listen with favor, assent, and compliance to all God says, we’ll have opportunity for our faith to grow. When our faith grows, we will be strong in faith and able to share our faith with more boldness and clarity. Growing in faith helps us to better understand that we as disciples of Christ are indeed called to “go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19).
Having a faith that is actively growing will enable the “sharing your faith” encouragement not seem to be a chore or an impossible task. The boldness we desire to live out the “share your faith” encouragement will be present when we have given our faith opportunity to grow.
Take advantage of the opportunity you have to grow your faith. Read God’s Word today. Listen to it. Give favor, assent, and compliance to it. This will give your faith opportunity to grow. From this growth, you will “share your faith” with boldness and confidence that God called you. This is your opportunity to . . . “grow your faith”.
