The Faith crisis among believers in America can be cured simply, but not easily. The human condition is enmity against God (Rom 8:7) which makes things difficult. Yet, the answer is so simple a thing as believing. Yes, just shifting our trust FROM one object to another; trading our sense of security FROM our status with others, or good standing in the community, or good works, money, job or business, girlfriend or spouse, etc, TO the Person of Jesus.

One problem is many of us have learned Not to trust. We trust no one but ourselves! And as creatures of habit, patterns are not easy to break. So TRUSTING JESUS can be a tough emotional transfer! For me it was emotional. I wept. I felt a deep cleansing. Thereafter, sharing my faith, I expected everyone else to have an emotional experience. Not so!

Sitting across the table from me was a new friend, Rick. Over a meal, I led him in a gospel presentation. Rick asked Christ to come into his life. He showed no emotion, so I asked him if he prayed sincerely. He affirmed that he did and trusted Christ to forgive his sins. He believed. It was rational. It was simple. It was the first day of a new life – changed by Jesus!

Reading the book of James, he would say ‘faith is a verb, not a noun’ (Js 1:22). The ACT of faith is what Jesus spoke about to Nicodemus (John 3:10-21). Jesus becomes the new ‘organizational principle’ in our lives. He is the Guiding rule and Authority. We hand over to Him the keys of control. We give Him command over the various areas of our lives. And it is a FAITH transaction based on the character of the historic person Jesus of Nazareth. We invite Him, and He lives inside us through the Spirit He gives us – the Holy Spirit.

A boy leaps into his Dad’s arms from the edge of a swimming pool by faith. Two people say their vows to each other in front of friends and family, by faith.  A consumer fills a grocery cart with foods that go through multitudes of processes from many places – it’s all by faith. All these operations are made in good faith, hoping the object of our faith is worthy of our trust. Likewise, putting our trust in Jesus is also an ACT of faith! It’s one we can believe in! What He says is true. iOi

skye

for powerful quotes re: Jesus —   https://www.ioutreachinc.org/jesus/