Have Faith

Discernment helps us stick to the teachings of Christ.

Compassion helps us model His character.

And faith gives us the ability to keep going.

Being Honest

It’s easy to get demoralized with all that’s going on out there.

Division, violence, natural disasters… It’s not showing many signs of getting better.

And if this present reality, with all its flaws, is all there is, then becoming demoralized would make sense.

But what we as followers of Jesus need to understand, especially in the face of these global issues, is that our faith is not in this world or what it produces, but in what God and His promises.

And I’d say that the best way to make sense of all that’s going on in the world today is to firmly stick to the faith He’s given us.

Faith in Reality

Let me make something clear.

When I’m talking about “faith,” I’m not talking about some feel-good sensation that’s ignorant and blind to all the wrong in the world.

Instead, I’m talking about the connection all Christians have to their creator and His promise to return and set things right.

And not only that, but also His promise to work through His people to create pockets of goodness and hope here on Earth.

Look, the world will always be changing. Until Jesus returns, global issues will always be here, and it’s possible that what we’re seeing today could get worse.

But the message of the Cross is that even the worst the world has to offer cannot prevail against the love of God.

Our faith should give us the bravery to face the difficulties of world events, knowing that no matter what, God’s grace is still alive and well and will come in its fullness when He returns.

We don’t need to be demoralized when we read the next headline.

Saddened? Sure.

Sympathetic? Sure.

But we only need to be demoralized if our present circumstances are “the be-all, end-all.” But they aren’t. Our faith reminds us of that.

When we are fixed on the reality of God’s pervasive grace, He will send His Spirit to help us face a difficult world.

There are no easy answers.

There are no easy outs. 

But with discernment, compassion, and faith, we can be the city on a hill that signals to the one who suffers the worst tragedies and resurrects still.

Be blessed.

Jon,

Theophilus Newsletter