Growing Faith

August 29, 2017

For years, when people would ask about how to grow in faith, I would quote Romans 10:17, “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”  

“Read your Bible,” I would say. It’s true. If our faith is weak, it’s often because we see our situation more clearly than we see our Savior. Getting our eyes focused on Jesus will grow our faith. But that’s only part of the picture. Liberal seminaries have no shortage of Bible scholars who don’t have a flea’s worth of faith. They know the Bible, but its authority for matters of life and godliness is watered down by an interpretive framework that makes it merely one of many resources. In their view, the Biblical text as it has come down to us cannot be trusted to give accurate information about its own central characters such as Abraham, Moses, David, and even Jesus Christ. Bible study is one way to build faith, but strangely enough, faith is required for it to build faith.

This morning’s Scripture highlights one other means of growing our faith. It also comes from St. Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians. Romans 4:20 “[Abraham] grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God.” Did you catch that? Abraham grew strong in his faith by glorifying God. Our faith grows as we study the Scriptures as did the early Christians, looking for Jesus in every passage. In everything we do and everything we say, we also lift up God so people can see him for who he really is. By focusing on God, our faith grows strong. It’s not rocket science. It’s basic Christian discipleship. And though it isn’t easy, it is simple, so even people like me can get it. That makes me happy tonight. And thankful.