By: Erlinda Mejia-Olson
HEBREWS 11:6 ~ "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
HEBREWS 11:6 ~ "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
FAITH is synonymous to worship for without it we can never please God! Yet, too many of us view "worship" as what happens on Sunday morning when the music plays and the choir sings. But worship isn't something we do ... it's more than just feelings—it's a lifestyle of presenting our "lives as a living sacrifice" to God (Romans 12:1), driven by faith which is what true worship demands. Through faith, we demonstrate our worship in reverence, awe, adoration, and affection for God. What we say, do, and think are all acts of worship. Our hearts and minds, our bodies, our marriages and careers, our recreation and service, our time should all be offered up to God in worship on a daily basis. As we exercise faith in our worship to God that we are pleasing Him (Hebrews 11:6). One good way to exercise faith is connecting with God through prayer.
According to Edward McKendree Bounds, "In any study of the principles, and procedure of prayer, of its activities and enterprises, first place, must, of necessity, be given to faith. It is the initial quality in the heart of any man who essays to talk to the Unseen. He must, out of sheer helplessness, stretch forth hands of faith. He must believe, where he cannot prove. In the ultimate issue, prayer is simply faith, claiming its natural yet marvelous prerogatives—faith taking possession of its illimitable inheritance. True godliness is just as true, steady, and persevering in the realm of faith as it is in the province of prayer. Moreover: when faith ceases to pray, it ceases to live. Faith does the impossible because it brings God to undertake for us, and nothing is impossible with God. How great—without qualification or limitation—is the power of faith! If doubt be banished from the heart, and unbelief made stranger there, what we ask of God shall surely come to pass, and a believer hath vouchsafed to him 'whatsoever he saith.' Activity is not strength. Work is not zeal. Moving about is not devotion. Activity often is the unrecognized symptom of spiritual weakness. It may be hurtful to piety when made the substitute for real devotion in worship. The colt is much more active than its mother, but she is the wheel-horse of the team, pulling the load without noise or bluster or show. The child is more active than the father, who may be bearing the rule and burdens of an empire on his heart and shoulders. Enthusiasm is more active than faith, though enthusiasm cannot remove mountains nor call into action any of the omnipotent forces which faith can command."
As we daily offer our lives to God, we are fulfilling one of our greatest purposes—to worship our Creator now and the life to come (Revelation 4:8-9). Faith gives us a new perspective on life because when we truly exercise faith in our worship, we take our eyes off ourselves and our circumstances and catch a glimpse of how God sees things ... "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD." (Isaiah 55:8). Gaining a heavenly perspective on the cares and burdens of life on earth might be faith's greatest gift to us.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
