Hebrews 11:6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. NIV
I’m reading “By Faith Alone” by Martin Luther, at the moment. It’s in the form of 365 devotionals (1 for each day). You see, I have an understanding on faith, but I want to check it. The easiest way I can describe faith (my faith) at the moment is ‘FAITH IS A RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST AND DEPENDENCE IN MY HEAVENLY FATHER ENABLED THROUGH JESUS AND GUIDED AND DIRECTED BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT‘. ‘FAITH IS DELIBERATELY AND INTENTIONALLY PLACING MYSELF IN THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD’. I’ve heard other ideas about faith, but they seem to be appealing to selfishness and pride and doing things without God, even bypassing God altogether. So I am searching things at the moment. Here’s a little exerpt from ‘By Faith Alone’ by Martin Luther… (I’ve never considered these words from Jesus being about faith)
————————–exerpt start——————————
Under His Wings
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets and stone to death those sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings!
Mt 23:37
In this passage, Christ gives us a beautiful illustration of faith. The Lord tenderly says to the Israelites that he would have gladly been their mother hen if they were only willing to be his chicks. Note carefully his words and illustration. Christ pours this out with his whole heart and with great seriousness. In this picture, we see how we should act towards Christ. It shows us how he can help us, how we should make use of him and enjoy him. If we watch how a hen behaves with her chicks, then we will see Christ and ourselves depicted better than any artist can paint.
Our souls are the chicks, and the devil and evil spirits are the hawks in the air. Except, we aren’t as clever as the chicks who flee under their mother hen. Also, demons are more skillful in attacking us than are the hawks in grabbing chicks. I previously taught how it isn’t enough to be devout, do good works, and live in grace. For not even our righteousness, let alone our unrighteousness, will endure before God’s eyes and his judgment. I have said that faith, if it is genuine faith, doesn’t rely on its own ability to believe but holds on to Christ and places itself under his righteousness. Just as chicks don’t rely on themselves and their own quickness but simply flee under the hen’s body and wings, so we must run to Christ and let him be our shield and protection.
————————–exerpt end——————————
Enlightened Hope 
Leave a Reply