Good afternoon church family,
Everywhere I am reading at the moment in scripture shouts of the need to grow in maturity in the faith. This is what our current sermon series is based on and so I believe it is further confirmation that we are headed in the right direction and that God wants to grow His Church.
Take this verse for instance in Romans, which refers to Abraham: “No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore his faith “was reckoned to him as righteousness.”” Romans 4:20-22 NRSV.
Trusting in God’s promises is what will make us strong in the faith and believing that despite what we have going on, God is the gracious ruler over our lives working everything for good. Next time you are going through a hardship, stop for a second and ask yourself which of God’s promises apply to me in this circumstance and how can I cling to this as I endure this situation knowing that God will provide for me, bring me through it and strengthen me in my faith as a result. For it is in the coming through of the hard times not the hard times themselves that we will be made strong in the faith. It’s the cycle of endurance and the clinging to hope that makes for a strong faith a wise man once said.
Blessings
Laurie
Rimutaka Baptist Church 