Faith in Formation
From Genesis 15 – 1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
2 But Abram said, "Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the air of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 then Abram said, "Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!"
4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." 5 Then He brought him outside and sat, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them."
6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
"Doubt's not a bad thing," weighs Tyler McKenzie. "It's an opportunity."
So it was in Genesis 15, when we as Christians are given our prototype of faith. The chapter doesn't seem to start very promisingly if it is to offer a clear and bright definition that will shine for the ages. God affirms his bond with Abram, and Abram complains. CUT! Take two, from the top!
Not so. As McKenzie suggests, the Holy Spirit allows faith to radiate in the dark context of doubt. Faith will be given, gifted by the sovereignty of God within the context of this initially contentious conversation. Faith wasn't, and then it was. Change was begotten as new life by the author of life rather than reasoned or striven toward by Abram's effort.
Just as we don't know what God might do with His invitation to continue a conversation which starts as a complaint, we don't know what He might do with our open-mindedness toward others expressing their disappointment. Stay around long enough, listen long enough, invite to behold the grandeur of God's work long enough, and something you may be kindled within the person to whom we speak – even before their circumstances change.
Looking back, since we know the genuine article of faith took root within Abram, and we have seen its evidence in our own lives and the lives of those we care about, we can trace back earlier evidence we might have ignored.
What we might have mistaken for contentment in a different sort of Abram, or friend, or self could have been an idolatry toward the status quo, or a fear to ask for something different. Temerity of the Abram sort, to insist on enjoying God's gifts beyond the present moment, even when it sounds brusque, might be faith in formation.
2 But Abram said, "Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the air of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 then Abram said, "Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!"
4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." 5 Then He brought him outside and sat, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them."
6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
"Doubt's not a bad thing," weighs Tyler McKenzie. "It's an opportunity."
So it was in Genesis 15, when we as Christians are given our prototype of faith. The chapter doesn't seem to start very promisingly if it is to offer a clear and bright definition that will shine for the ages. God affirms his bond with Abram, and Abram complains. CUT! Take two, from the top!
Not so. As McKenzie suggests, the Holy Spirit allows faith to radiate in the dark context of doubt. Faith will be given, gifted by the sovereignty of God within the context of this initially contentious conversation. Faith wasn't, and then it was. Change was begotten as new life by the author of life rather than reasoned or striven toward by Abram's effort.
Just as we don't know what God might do with His invitation to continue a conversation which starts as a complaint, we don't know what He might do with our open-mindedness toward others expressing their disappointment. Stay around long enough, listen long enough, invite to behold the grandeur of God's work long enough, and something you may be kindled within the person to whom we speak – even before their circumstances change.
Looking back, since we know the genuine article of faith took root within Abram, and we have seen its evidence in our own lives and the lives of those we care about, we can trace back earlier evidence we might have ignored.
What we might have mistaken for contentment in a different sort of Abram, or friend, or self could have been an idolatry toward the status quo, or a fear to ask for something different. Temerity of the Abram sort, to insist on enjoying God's gifts beyond the present moment, even when it sounds brusque, might be faith in formation.
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