A Model of Faith
On John 4:47-53, it seems there is a model for us on living a life of effective, God-honoring faith. At least an example of the kind of faith that God felt worthy enough to mention in the Bible. It goes like that...
1) Acknowledge that Jesus has power of life and death. The Royal Official in this story had heard about Jesus and acknowledged by his actions that Jesus could heal his dying son;
2) Go and Beg Jesus to do something. Here we really need to swallow our pride, seek him out, and pour out our heart to him. Beg. How often do we do that. Get an idea in your head of what that looks like. How desperate that is. The faith that it requires;
3) Listen to what he says. God is in a dialogue with us. He loves that. He'll use it to point out to us what is really going on in our hearts. The real issue. Jesus promises eternal life. The official was looking for mortal life for his son. Was he looking for a Messiah? Jesus wants us to believe in everything he is, not just what we need. It's not about our needs, but he'll use them to help us understand the gift of eternal life that he offers.
4) Be persistent. This is not the only place in the Bible that Jesus sets this as a model. It's a great indicator of our faith. Are we going to hold to what drove us to Christ. Even if he is slow to respond. Are we going to move on to Plan B? This man held on.
5) Take Him at his word. Here, Jesus didn't heal the son, he just said he was healed. And the man accepted that. Faith is not expecting something to happen. It's living like it already happened. As we hear God's reply, we need to believe it.
6) Worship. The man and his household believed. If we are already believers, we can respond to God's mercy and grace with worship.
1) Acknowledge that Jesus has power of life and death. The Royal Official in this story had heard about Jesus and acknowledged by his actions that Jesus could heal his dying son;
2) Go and Beg Jesus to do something. Here we really need to swallow our pride, seek him out, and pour out our heart to him. Beg. How often do we do that. Get an idea in your head of what that looks like. How desperate that is. The faith that it requires;
3) Listen to what he says. God is in a dialogue with us. He loves that. He'll use it to point out to us what is really going on in our hearts. The real issue. Jesus promises eternal life. The official was looking for mortal life for his son. Was he looking for a Messiah? Jesus wants us to believe in everything he is, not just what we need. It's not about our needs, but he'll use them to help us understand the gift of eternal life that he offers.
4) Be persistent. This is not the only place in the Bible that Jesus sets this as a model. It's a great indicator of our faith. Are we going to hold to what drove us to Christ. Even if he is slow to respond. Are we going to move on to Plan B? This man held on.
5) Take Him at his word. Here, Jesus didn't heal the son, he just said he was healed. And the man accepted that. Faith is not expecting something to happen. It's living like it already happened. As we hear God's reply, we need to believe it.
6) Worship. The man and his household believed. If we are already believers, we can respond to God's mercy and grace with worship.
