A measure of faith…….

[Sky]

Many Christians have a rock solid faith and also many are very devoted and understanding relationship with God/Christ.

And all of the above is a good thing.

Many Christians find Christ and their life is transformed.

Again that is a good thing.


It is very clear to me that there are also some who do not have a transformed life and lack faith and only believe up to a point.

Now can we without ripping into anyone , ponder why all of us have varying degrees of belief and faith.
Bless you.

 

[Coconut]

Why would anyone rip into anyone over this question?

As your title indicates, every man is given a measure of faith, [Rom 12:3] it is up to him/her how he builds on it.

Faith can only be as strong as the one we place our faith in.

 

[Janette]

missed the boat...

I've seen a lot of people use the whole "measure of faith" quote to try to explain why one person is faith-healing injuries doctors have called hopeless while others seem lucky if they drum up the faith that God exists at all.

But I think these people (both factions) miss the point.

This quote was not given to us to explain why one person's faith (or activity for God) seems to be stronger than another.

This quote was given to us to explain that to ALL was given a measure of faith.

It means that ALL have enough of this thing called faith to accomplish whatever it is we need to accomplish to have our own "Road to Demascus" experience and get right with God.

It means that ALL have enough of this thing called faith to have *some* sense of God -- however limited and basic that sense may seem when held against the apparently great faiths of famous theologians or activists.

It means that ALL have no excuse at the end of days -- because they were *given* "a measure" -- of faith. One molecule of certainty, one dram of awareness that GOD IS...and what that means in the greater sense.

It means that the people who say "I see no evidence of God" are on some level *lying to themselves* as well as to the world -- in stubbornness and rebellion *against* this "measure of faith" that the Lord had recorded as given to everyone.

 

[Boanerges]

Simple belief in His willingness to move in your life will move more mountains than all the striving you can muster.

We are indeed give a measure of faith Sky but scripture teaches that our faith can be built up by the Word of God and prayer:

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Personally I believe that God is simply looking for that simple trust. Like a child reaching for it's Father the expectation of being picked up requires no effort but comes quite naturally.

 

[Gracealone]

I liken our different growth levels to that of a normal human family.
A spiritual child is born, maybe at 6...15....30 ...70, even, but he/she is still a child in the Lord.
Maturity isn't one of how old we are, but at what speed we grow spiritually, in the Lord.
A person may have been a Christian for 50 years, and still be a child spiritually. Another may be a Christian for only a few years, but may be a giant spiritually.
God leads us along faithfully, and with long suffering, patient ,kind ,and loving, just as we do with our children.
Especially with those who are retarded, both physically, and maybe spiritually.
Dont you think so too?

 

[Boanerges]

I liken our different growth levels to that of a normal human family.
A spiritual child is born, maybe at 6...15....30 ...70, even, but he/she is still a child in the Lord.
Maturity isn't one of how old we are, but at what speed we grow spiritually, in the Lord.
A person may have been a Christian for 50 years, and still be a child spiritually. Another may be a Christian for only a few years, but may be a giant spiritually.
God leads us along faithfully, and with long suffering, patient ,kind ,and loving, just as we do with our children.
Especially with those who are retarded, both physically, and maybe spiritually.
Dont you think so too?

Indeed. :shade:
When you have babies around you can expect a lot of mess and a fair amount of noise but they are a lot of fun!
BTW I am fairly retarded my own self-:shock: lol!

 

[SpiritLedEd]

A Measure of Faith.......

Maturity isn't one of how old we are, but at what speed we grow spiritually, in the Lord.

Matthew 25:14-30 NIV is called the Parable of the Talents (Money), but the message is about more than mere money management. I think it refers to the level of faith we begin our born-again experience with and whether or not we grow in faith and maturity as believers.

Verse 15 says that one man was given five talents, another received two talents, and a third received one talent "each according to his ability." Note that the man who received only one talent produced no fruit and was severly punished for it. I think the message there is that the king knew in advance a) what each man was capable of, and b) was testing each man's attitude toward the gift - would he be a good servant and bear fruit according to his ability? Or, would he goof off, try to make excuses for lackluster effort, and expect to get by with it?

We each begin our born-again walk with a measure of faith tailored to our individual abilities at the time. The challenge is for us to exercise that faith. As we do so, we experience God's faithfulness in the keeping of His promises and the more we see God's faithfulness, the more our faith grows.

SLE