Baby Faith

Children--babies especially--can really teach you alot about faith.  In the womb, towards the end of pregnancy, most babies position themselves upside down in the uterus, to make for an easy delivery for mom and a safe delivery for baby.  They turn their backs to the world, turn upside down, and expect for SOMEONE to catch them when they make their debut into the world.  What if we had that type of faith when it came to our lives? What if we ignored everything stacked against us, turned our backs to the world, and came out of our previous situation unharmed and safe? If we knew that someone would be there to catch us, would we be more inclined to have stronger faith?

My son has some of the best focus that I have seen in a long time.  No matter where he is or what he is doing, if there is something he wants, he goes for it at all costs.  He doesn't care if there's five feet of space between an object and the solid bed he may be sitting on, he doesn't care if you move an object a million times to keep it from him--he's going to find a way to get what he wants and needs.

Wanna know about focus?  This kid sat like that for ten minutes because his pacifier fell through the leg of his walker.  It was attached to his shirt by a string, so he knew it was there, he just couldn't see it.  How often do we know what's at the end of our journey and we still lose focus?

                                

When do we become so jaded by the world that we lose our focus, our will, our faith?  When does constant rejection, disappointment and failure change our focus or make us lose it all together? When does the negativity in our lives give way to faithlessness?

At birth, we start off with an 'A' or 100% for faith, much like a demerit system might work in school.  Our faith is full, because we have not yet experienced the world, and as babies, we come to expect being saved from a fall.  With a demerit system, every time we misbehave or do something that warrants discipline, our 'A'--or points--decrease based on the behavior.  Unfortunately for most, this seems to be how our faith works as well.  As we grow and get older,  failures and disappointment occur, and doubt sets in, leading to less and less faith.

I sure wish I had the focus of my son.  I'd probably be working on a second or third (or fourth) graduate degree now.  I wouldn't be taking so long to lose weight.  The trunk of our car would probably be clean.  But I can't do the could've, should've, would've game.  I can only take this moment recognize my flaws, and move on from here.

How much further would you be if you had a little more faith, focus, and will?

Sidenote: I wrote this on Friday, July 8th. The funny thing is, my pastor touch on this on Sunday, July 10th. Funny, huh? God will definitely kick you in the butt to make sure you're paying attention, won't he?

Study Hall Session

2 Timothy 2:15-16 (New American Standard Bible)

15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
16But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness



(King James Version)

5Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.



I like to think of myself as an ever-growing, ever-evolving Christian. In the past, I've been the typical Sunday morning Christian, and on Monday I was right back to my foolishness, having listened to the word but not absorbing it and applying it to my everyday life. Now, I question things that preachers say, and am slowly working on my "Study to show thyself approved."



Too many times, people take the Bible out of context. As one intelligent person calls it, the bible is Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. I definitely agree with that. If we do what we are supposed to--STUDY--then we develop our own relationship with God. We learn what the words of the bible truly mean, and others that try to impose their interpretation of the bible upon you fail. We are to beware of "false prophets" (Matthew 7:15) that use the bible and the words of God and his people to cause confusion. It is only when we develop a true, lasting, and ever-growing relationship with God that we can discern for ourselves what we need to do.



I hear people question God all the time. Nothing is wrong with questioning God when you have a relationship with him. God has an open door policy. What God DOESN'T want you to do is lose your faith. People that have lost their faith and are questioning God don't have the correct platform with which to reach him. But when we have a developing relationship with God and STUDY (there goes that word again), then we will know exactly what to do in any situation.



Those that constantly question God and His word, claim to have a relationship with Him, yet have not done God His due diligence by picking up a bible confuse me. How can anyone say that they know ANYTHING without observing, taking notes, learning all they can about a subject? When we don't do our part, things get misconstrued, false judgements are made, and we possibly miss a relationship that could have been great. It's the same way with God. We HAVE to STUDY!!!!



Someone can be intelligent and great at absorption. They can sit in a classroom, not take notes, and absorb all the information that the teacher is giving. When the test comes, it's easy to spew out all the information that was given. But if the test is a test in which answers are not enough, what happens? A student has given the teacher exactly what the teacher has given him, but what about application? What about all of the scenarios in which these answers can be applied? The same goes for a relationship with God. So many people can sit in the church and listen to everything the pastor gives them, be moved by the sermon and the "Christianese" even, but if that churchgoer does not cultivate a relationship outside of just what is given to him, how can he apply? I must admit, I have been guilty of just going to church, taking in what was said, and leaving, not even remembering sometimes what the sermon was. I've hit the parking lot and been ready to go wherever and do whatever, not even thinking about the consequences of my actions or the application of the word to my life.



This is why a personal relationship with God is so necessary. We need to be able to walk through our week knowing that we are prepared for anything that is thrown at us. We don't study, we don't apply, and therefore we don't "rightly divide the word of truth." We end up relying on our own truths and getting into some mess we shouldn't be in, or disproportionatley handling a situation that could have been resolved peacefully, decently, and in order.