“Would You Like More Faith and Love?”

“I’d like more faith.  I know I need it, if I’m ever going to make it through this terrible time.”

“I really want to love others more.  I know I’m supposed to.  But it’s hard to love those who are so annoying, self-centered and always think they are right.”

Would you like more faith and more love?  You’re not alone.  Many people would like to inject an extra dose of faith and love into their souls.  But there’s a big problem.  How do you acquire more love and faith?  Can you manufacture it?  Is there a source?

Stop looking within yourself, and start looking into Christ’s promises.  Listen to this Bible verse:  “We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love that you have for all God’s people – the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven.”  – Colossians 1:4-5

Did you catch the authentic source of more faith and love?  Faith and love spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven.  The source of greater faith and love is confidence that you are already forgiven in Christ.  Heaven is already your future destination.  When someone is sure that they’re going to heaven, their heavenly confidence is a spring welling up to greater faith and lasting love.  You find yourself saying things like…

“What wondrous love he has already had for me!  This week will be rough.  But these problems are only for a time.  What lasts forever is my heavenly home.”

“I know Jesus thought it was worth it, dying for me.  And his love isn’t only for me – it’s also for them.  So, it won’t be easy…but if I think about Jesus more than I think about them, I can love them. 

Feel free to dream about how peaceful…how refreshing…how satisfying…how glorious your heavenly home will be!  Ponder all the love Christ Jesus had in order to give that to you!  And without even trying, more love and faith will spring from your soul.  You’ll spend your earthly hours influencing others in the best possible way.

Prayer: O Jesus Christ, your Word assures me that my soul has been saved eternally through your finished work.  Your Word promises me that my body, even though it will die and decay, will one day be raised to new life!  It will be transformed to be like your glorious body!  Help me to keep chewing on your eternal promises, that they might be a never-ending source of faith and love in my life.  Amen.
  

Nathan Buege
Pastor, Victory of the Lamb Lutheran Church
Katy, TX