"Stand Firm in the Faith"

Conclusion of LOSS OF FOCUS CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF FAITH

Do I struggle to forgive personal offenses?   When others offend or hurt us, we could focus on how we feel and then be tempted to tell them off or to cut them off by not speaking to them. On the other hand, if we forgive, we show our faith in Jehovah.  How so?  Those who sin against us owe us a  debt, just as our sins put us in debt to God.  (Luke 11:4) When we forgive others, we have to trust that gaining God's favor by doing so is worth more than making them pay back their debt.  Jesus' disciples recognized that forgiving others requires faith.  When he told them to forgive even those who had sinned against them repeatedly, they begged:  "Give us more faith." -Luke 17:1-5. 

Do I chafe at Scriptural counsel?  Instead of looking for a way to benefit from the counsel, we might be focusing on some defect in the counsel or in the counselor.  (Proverbs  19:20) We might thus miss an opportunity to bring our thinking into line with God's .

Do I murmur against appointed brothers in the congregation?   When the Israelites focused on the bad report of the ten faithless spies, they began to murmur against Moses and Aaron. Jehovah then asked Moses;  "How much longer will they not put faith in me?" (Numbers 14:2-4, 11) Yes, the Israelites' murmuring actually showed  a lack of trust in God, who had appointed Moses and Aaron.  Likewise, if we constantly grumble about those whom God is using to lead his people, is this not and indication that our faith in God has weakened? 

Still, do not be disheartened if you self-examination exposes weaknesses in your faith. Even Peter, an apostle, gave way to fear and doubt. In fact, Jesus at times reproved all the apostles for having "little faith."  (Matthew 16:8)  Keep in mind that an important lesson we learn from Peter's experience comes from what he did after his faith wavered and he started to sink into the sea. 

Next time: "Stand Firm in the Faith" - FOCUS ON JESUS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH

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