"Stand Firm in the Faith"

LOSS OF FOCUS CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF FAITH

The wind and waves surrounding Peter as he walked on the water  might be compared to the trials and temptations we face in our life of dedication to God.  Even when these are severe, we can stand firm with Jehovah's support.  Recall that Peter did not sink because of a gust of wind or a big wave. Think back on the sequence of events:  "Looking at the windstorm, he became afraid."  (Matthew 14:30)  Peter lost his focus  on Jesus, and then his faith wavered.  We could begin to sink if we were to begin "looking at the windstorm,"  focusing on its power and doubting that Jehovah will support us.

We should take seriously the possibility  that our faith could diminish, for the Bible refers to a weakening of faith or loss of faith as "the sin that easily entangled   us."  (Hebrews 12:1) As Peter's  experience shows, our faith can quickly weaken if we focus on the wrong things. How can we tell whether we are in danger of that happening?  Consider some questions that we can use to examine ourselves. 

Do God's promises seem less real to me now than they once did?  For instance, God has promised to destroy the present system of things.  Yet, we are distracted by the world's array of entertainment options, thus weakening our faith in God's promise?  We might start to doubt that the end is really near. (Habakkuk 2:3)  Here is another example. God promises to forgive us on the basis of the ransom. If, though, we became obsessed  with guilt over our past mistakes, we could begin to doubt whether Jehovah has really "blotted out " all our sins.  (Acts 3:19) Consequently, we could lose our joy in God's service and become inactive. 

Am I as diligent in God's service as I once was?  The apostle Paul showed that working hard for Jehovah leads to our having "the full assurance of the hope down to the end."  However, what could happen if we began to focus our efforts  on personal pursuits, such as by taking a job that pays well but that interferes with our worship? Our faith could weaken, and we could "become sluggish," doing less for Jehovah than our circumstances allow. -Hebrews 6:10-12.

Next time: "Stand Firm in the Faith" -Conclusion of LOSS OF FOCUS CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF FAITH

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