Where is your faith?

There were several occasions where Jesus addressed the people after having performed miracles and signs. At those moments, Jesus said basically said that they only followed him because of the signs and miracles. Right after the feeding of the 5000 he also made a strong statement. He asked the people if they followed him because they had their fill of bread.

I think this is a good question for us to ask ourselves today. As we look at having faith in God, what do we really base our faith on? Do we base it on the blessings we have in our lives? Do we base it on the fact that we have all that we need? What happens when our expectations of God are disappointed? What happens to our faith at times like that?

I believe our faith in God has to go much further than that. We need to trust and love him for who he is not for what he does. Although we can say that he is a God that is always good, we need to be careful that we do not use physical blessings as a measure by which we believe God or not. Believe God because he loves us. Believe him because he gave his son in our place to forgive our sins and give us eternal life. Believe him because he is God and there is no other like him.

Our faith will be tried. As a matter-of-fact, James says, count it all joy when you face all kinds of trials because this develops perseverance. We cannot choose to believe God when everything is easy and turn against him when life throws a curveball at us. It is hard to understand this but God actually is closer to us we are going through rough times. When we go through the fire He is with us. Keep your faith no matter what is going on in your life. God will never abandon you.

Isaiah 43:1-2 "But now, this is what the Lord says-he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."