Articles
Being a Master Builder of Faith
During VBS this past week at West Mason, the children had a great time building recreations of their favorite biblical events from LEGOs and learning about the lives of Moses, Joshua, Noah, and Abraham, four men of faith. Regarding faith, Romans 10:17 reads, ”So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Throughout Romans 10, the apostle Paul speaks to how the gospel of Christ is a message of salvation intended for all mankind. Whether you’re learning about Christ for the first time or know Him already, you can continually grow your faith by discovering more about Him through hearing His word.
Numbers 11 teaches some insight into Joshua’s relationship with God and Moses. Moses appointed elders to help him guide the Israelites as the Lord had commanded him and His spirit descended upon the chosen elders (Num. 11:25). When the Lord’s spirit fell on the men, many began prophesying and stopped after a time. However, two of the men continued to prophesy. After it was reported to Moses, Numbers 11:28-29 records, “And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, ‘My lord Moses, stop them.’ But Moses said to him, ‘Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!’” These verses prove that Joshua began hearing the words of God from Moses and did his best to obey them starting at a young age.
Joshua isn’t the only person to begin his relationship with God at a young age because the disciple Timothy did as well. In 2 Timothy 1:6, the apostle Paul talks about how he is confident that Timothy has as sincere a faith as his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice, had. Paul is confident about this because he encourages Timothy to persevere in his faith. Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:14-15 (NIV), “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” A strong and sincere faith isn’t instantly granted to God’s children, it is something that is built up through hearing God’s word and acting on it over time.
But what if you can’t think of a person you know to guide you in building your relationship with Christ? In the Bible, know that Abraham was the same way. His parents originally lived among the Chaldeans in Ur and worshipped idols (Genesis 11:27-30 and Joshua 24:2). The Bible does not explain how Abraham came to know God and trust Him. However, there are two resources today that are available to everyone that Abraham did not have on his own, Jesus Christ and God’s church. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The teachings of Jesus Christ and the completed word of God are available for people to read and study to know God. Speaking of Jesus Christ, Colossians 1:18 reads, “And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.” There are people all around the world who you and I can worship God with and grow together in our knowledge of Him. You are not alone. You can build your faith at any time, the door is always open, you just have to choose to walk through it.
