Faith Sees

Photo by Daniel Leone

Does faith really “move mountains” or is it “blind”? To describe faith as mountain-moving obviously implies it is able to do things on a magnificently grand scale! To describe faith as blind, on the other hand, well that doesn’t quite paint it in as favorable a light. It implies that it isn’t really founded on anything – some people run with it, and some don’t, but there isn’t really much on which to base it.

Except that there is.

A person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”

Galatians 2:16 (NIV)

Did you catch it? I hope so, because the phrase was repeated three times in just one verse: “faith in Jesus/Christ.” Christian faith isn’t blind at all! It is “in Jesus.” That means it is based on something – someOne – real!  This a real person, whose real words and real actions can really be studied and scrutinized. Now you may reject his real words and his real actions, but you can’t claim that a faith in Jesus is “blind,” because that conclusion itself is blind at best, and deliberately deceptive at worst. 

As for me, I believe his words and actions wholeheartedly, and am blessed to have the fullest life right here and now – and into eternity – because of them. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some mountains to go move.

A Gift to Be Shared

Photo by Gareth Harper

You would be disappointed if you had put a lot of thought, effort, and $$$ into the perfect gift… only to find out that the intended recipient had never received it. What a shame! Who knows what happiness and delight that gift may have brought that person? Who knows how deeply they might have appreciated it? It may have been just what they needed at just the right time.

If you personally know the thought, effort, and ultimately the price – not $$$, but his own Son! – that God put into sending his Gift into the world on Christmas, then imagine how different your life would be if you didn’t! Shudder at the thought of it!

But here’s the thing: you know others who don’t know about this Gift that we celebrate at Christmas. What difference would it make if in the next week, the next 7 days, the next 168 hours, you did whatever was necessary to invite them to hear about this Gift with us this Christmas? Or… do you mistakenly think that God’s gift was just for you?