13/09/2022 - GENUINE FAITH

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When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.   2 Timothy 1.5

Paul was used to tell us that there can be in our midst a not genuine faith, thus, a false faith. Now, it’s sad to see that corruption has reached something so beautiful and good as faith. Never forget that we will give an account of what we have done or failed to do in the mission given by the Lord. That’s why we have to be zealous when knowing His will for our life. Whoever does not serve Him with all their heart cannot be an instrument in His hands. Unfortunately, the devil has taken over many of God’s children. Be vigilant!

True faith makes us bold like the lion, who fears neither the hunter’s weapon nor the size of the challenger. We are called to be part of the holy ministry of the Most High. To do this, we must be prepared and act within the divine plan written in the Bible. On the Day of Reckoning, we must go before the Judge of the Universe and tell Him that we have fulfilled our assignments. 

This kind of faith dwelt in Jesus. You see, in the wild and uncontrolled sea, with strong winds that made the sea violent to the point of filling the boat with water, the Master stood among the disciples and with the utmost tranquility commanded everything to be still, and it happened (Mark 4.37-39). We must act in adverse circumstances similarly. We can do no differently than Jesus did!

Christ did not fear the clique of priests, scribes and Pharisees who came to His faith meetings to accuse Him of being a charlatan. In their minds was a paralytic who could not walk at all, but the Master changed everything, saying that the sick man’s sins were forgiven. For these religious people, Christ was blaspheming by making Himself equal to God, the only One able to forgive sins. However, the Savior commanded the hopeless man to take up his bed and walk (Mark 2.1-12).

The faith that was in Timothy was not false, but real, the only faith that God gives to His servants. However, some lose it because of fear and cowardice, and then, because they don’t have the courage to go to the Father to confess their mistake, they deceive themselves by creating stories in their vain minds. Be a person of faith and you will see that divine power will answer your determinations just as the Master’s. It doesn’t matter who is used by God; if you follow Jesus, you will get similar results.

We are not talking about the wrong faith, nor about people who lived in sin, but about some who are even strict in doctrine, but have lost the ability to act according to God’s Word. The Bible gives the following exhortation to those who are faithful to God: Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified.  (2 Corinthians 13.5).

This was the faith shown by Eunice, Timothy’s mother, and by Lois, his grandmother; now – it dwelt in him. It’s so good for the son, grandson, or great-grandson of people who have given themselves to God and left them an inheritance! If you are the first to be saved in your home, strive to preserve the real faith and thus, bless your descendants.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares