Weekly Thought – October 18, 2016
Fred and Mary Alice met in seventh grade English class. She loved his family and grew spiritually as a teenager through the ministry of Mathew Bunyan Smith, Fred’s Dad. She was born 101 years ago today. Her influence on her family and friends continues. Her love and encouragement flow through all she touched.
October 26 and 27, 2016 are the dates for the Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute. The team will begin gathering on the 25th in West Palm Beach, FL. Please stand with us in prayer. Thank you for your consistent, faithful support.
Following Faithfully
In our lives “faith” is both a noun and a verb. As a noun we express what is the faith. Dr. Ramesh Richard, my theologian friend who has two earned PhDs is an international proclaimer of the gospel. He gave me the “Faith Alones” (or solas) as outlined by Martin Luther: 1) by grace alone; 2) through faith alone; 3) based on Scripture alone; 4) in Christ alone; and 5) for God’s glory alone. These outline faith as a noun.
Faith, as a verb, is how we live faith out in our lives. By faith, we follow the Scriptures both in principles and disciplines for life. We look to the Scriptures for both commands and promises.
One time when I was in negotiations with the steelworkers’ union, our lawyer was convinced they were going to declare a strike. Therefore, he recommended we not make an offer because it would be used as the basis for the next negotiation. As I left home to go to the meeting, I did something I had never done before. I opened the Bible and read the first verse that I saw. “Do not withhold from workers money that is due them.” I knew right then what my decision would be. Against the lawyer’s recommendation, I opted to make a reasonable offer. To our amazement, the union members readily accepted it. So we avoided a strike. I felt I had been given divine guidance.
Any time we make a decision to do right, rather than wrong, we are living by faith. Like the old hymn tells us to walk in faith living a life that pleases God we must “trust and obey.” Dr. Richard pointed out to me Hope and faith will not be needed in heaven for we will see and know. But the love of God in Christ will exist eternally. That is the faith which energizes me.
This week think about: 1) How can I translate my faith noun into a faith verb? 2) What areas of my life need faithful attention? 3) Who encourages me to walk by faith?
Words of Wisdom: “Faith is both a noun and a verb.
Wisdom from the Word: “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4 NET Bible)