Where does your faith come from?
I'd like to briefly explore faith with you as I work through some of my reading and studying this morning. This isn't intended to be an exhaustive evaluation or study on faith, but hopefully, a helpful stimulus for you to think through your own faith.
My study this morning was on Matthew 15:10-20 (All Scripture references are ESV.):
And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” (ESV)
A few things stood out to me, especially when expanding to a bit larger section of Matthew chapters 14 and 15:
- The Pharisees were offended that the disciples didn't follow the tradition of washing their hands before they ate.
- Jesus rebukes the Pharisees telling them it is not what goes into their mouth that defiles them. What they put in their mouth passes through the body and is excreted. It is what comes out of the mouth that defiles them, because that comes out of the heart.
- The Pharisees held to the tradition of men, teaching the commandments of men as doctrine, over the Word of God.
It made me think, along with some other reading and questions that I came across, maybe it is helpful to start with figuring out what my definition of faith is.
The Precept study provided a nudge to think about this by asking the question, "How would you describe faith or explain it to another person?"
What Faith Isn't
Maybe it is helpful to explore what faith isn't first? Here is a short consideration of what faith is not.
We seemingly don't have to have much faith in things we can determine with our senses:
- If I can see something, it is typically real - AI arguments aside, that is a whole other discussion.
- If I can smell something, it is almost always real (my sons demonstrate this well)
- If I can hear something, again, AI aside, it is likely real
- If I can touch something, it is almost certainly real
- If I can taste it, oh, this is a bit of a tough one with processed food, I guess at least, we can say it exists
Faith isn't believing in something that is immediately able to be experienced. I don't need strong faith to believe if the ladder falls over while I am putting up Christmas lights I am rapidly going to approach the ground. Yes, I am afraid of heights. Or, as it is more comically said, I'm not afraid of heights, I'm afraid of the impact.
Faith isn't compliance. I don't have to have faith to comply with the law, though I do have to be obedient to do so.
Faith isn't just a feeling. I feel lots of things, that doesn't necessarily mean I believe them or place trust in them.
A couple of days ago in my study, I was working through Matthew 14:22-33, a passage I'm sure you are familiar with. It is where Jesus walks on water to the disciples who were in a boat in the middle of a storm. Peter, wanting to confirm it is Jesus, tells him if it is you Jesus, command me to get out an walk on the water. Jesus does. For a moment, when Peter's eyes are locked on Jesus, he does indeed walk on the water. However, when his focus shifts to the storm blown waves, he begins sinking. Jesus says in v31b, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
If faith is not these things, what is faith?
What Faith Is
When I encountered the question mentioned above, "how would you describe faith or explain it to another person," I had an immediate, but shallow response. About three seconds later, I was like oh, uhh, that is going to take some effort and maybe, I don't really know?
I mean, I know. Don't you? This is one of those things that we "intuitively" know but struggle to explain why. Or, maybe that is just me.
Even before coming to know Jesus personally, I had faith that God existed for as long as I can remember. I also, mistakenly, remember wanting him not to interfere with the happiness I was looking for in life. Well, that was a miss. But again, a different story for a different time. The point is I just sort of *knew* that God is God.
Scripture presents a multifaceted understanding of faith that goes far beyond mere intellectual assent. Faith fundamentally “comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17), suggesting it is a dynamic, responsive relationship rather than a static concept. It is defined as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen,” and critically, “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb 10:38–11:40).
The Logos Bible App had a helpful paragraph:
> Importantly, faith is not passive—it requires active demonstration. James provocatively argues that “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” and challenges believers to “show me your faith by your works.” He bluntly states that “faith apart from works is useless” (James 2:14–26). Yet simultaneously, faith is a gift—“by grace you have been saved through faith... not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8–9). Ultimately, faith is lived “in the Son of God,” with Jesus himself being the “founder and perfecter of our faith” (Gal 2:20); (Heb. 12:2). “Faith is not about perfect performance, but persistent trust.”
According to this, faith is, at least, includes this:
- Active
- A gift
- Jesus is the founder *and* perfecter of it
- It is not about performance but trust
Similarly, my pastor often says, it is not about the size of your faith, but the object of it, which echos Matthew 17:20: He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
There are many other verses that help us understand, a few:
One of my favorite sections of Scripture is Hebrews 11:30-35 when discussing the heroes of faith:
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.
The passage above is so encouraging to me because it tells so many stories of ordinary men who through faith were brought through so much adversity.
From the BetterMornings Devo, by BetterMan (these are always great, but the December 1st devotion was timely for me):
Puritan William Gurnall captured this tension perfectly: "God often brings His people into such a condition that they can see no deliverance but His."
If it made sense, you'd trust the plan. Because it doesn't, you're forced to trust God. Often the very moments that feel the most unreasonable are the exact moments where God is building the most unshakable faith.
These quotes were very helpful for me to better understand how to communicate what I intuitively *knew* about faith.
Ok great, now what? We have seen what faith isn't and what faith is, but where, or in whom, does our faith belong?
Where does your faith come from?
There are, obviously, many options available to us. Marketing departments work very hard to remind us that buying that next thing will satisfy - no offense to my friends in Marketing. You do great work, often too good of work. I have seen what happens when I try to live out life on my own terms, chasing the worldly things I thought would bring happiness. (Hint: that never ends well.) I have followed my feelings with a similar result.
It took awhile, but I finally came to discover that faith that led to joy is only found in Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of my faith. Jesus captured my heart and continues to transform my heart. In Ezekiel 36:26, God promises, "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." Now, my faith rightly comes from my heart.
YouTube Music notified me of a new song while writing this, "Ain't Got Enough Faith" by Conner Smith, which I think sums up my journey well:
*When it comes to thinking someone’s up there looking down
Well buddy, I’ve got to
‘Cause I ain’t got enough faith not to*
As I continue in the Precept study, it then asked the harder question.
It is a question that invites introspection and examination; a couple of things I regularly find difficult. I would like to extend that invitation to you. You're welcome. Take a few moments. Even just a couple. Find a silent space without distractions or interruptions and ask yourself.
Is your Christian walk more governed by a traditional code of dos and don'ts or by the clear commandments and teachings of the Word of God? Don't answer this off the cuff—think it through.
As you consider that question, ask God. Regardless of where you are in your faith journey, God is listening and cares. He invites us to seek the truth and is faithful to answer.
Manhood Journey, another valuable resource I would recommend, invites us to take a couple more minutes and pray through Colossians as we engage in our daily routines:
Colossians 2:6-7:
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7 calls us to walk in Christ, rooted and built up in Him, and abounding in thanksgiving. This week, connect a simple prayer to something "ordinary"-your morning coffee, commute, or dog walk. Pray something like: "Jesus, I'm walking with You."
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Sources:
- Precepts Matthew Bible Study
- BetterMornings Devo, by Better Man
- Manhood Journey
- Ain't Got Enough Faith - Conner Smith
- ESV Bible
- Logos Bible App
