What is the biggest leap of faith you’ve ever taken?
How about the smallest?
We all emphasize the big, risky leaps of faith but just as important are those little ones, the invisible ones… even the mundane things of life. Have you ever considered that simply getting out of bed each morning can- and should- be an act of faith?
Today’s plunge will tackle the smallest steps of faith and will challenge us to do even the most routine things in trust.
Day 15
1. The Bread: Read John 8:31-59
2. The Devo: Read Day 15 in Trust Without Borders: A 40-Day Devotional Journey to Deepen, Strengthen, and Stretch Your Faith in God
3. The Plunge: Today’s concept is another huge one and we are barely going to touch the tip of the iceberg.
I want this to be deeply ingrained in our hearts and thinking, indeed, I desire for today’s truth to be what drives our very lifestyle. I have included a link to another of John Piper’s messages to help expand the teaching on today’s concept.
So let’s touch the tip and I’ll leave the deep studying to you and the Lord!
Romans 14:23 tells us that any activity not done in faith is sin. This statement is shocking when you think about it. It redefines sin from an act or behavior to a motive. The motive for all our activity, whether eating or working or serving or blogging should be a solid confidence in God.
John Piper says it like this, “Anything, absolutely any act or attitude, which is owing to a lack of trust in God is sin, no matter how moral it may appear to men. God looks on the heart.
Coming to church may be sin and staying home may be sin.
Sexual intercourse with your spouse may be sin and the refusal of it may be sin.
Eating a steak may be sin and not eating it may be sin.”
If you are like me, it is easy to see the sin in your life according to this biblical definition! But do you see the tremendous hope? This means that even the most mundane of things can be done in faith (not just the big things like going on the mission field)…and therefore, done in a way that honors God.
Take the example of getting out of bed each morning. Something so mundane and necessary can be done in faith and therefore, can be pleasing to God based on Hebrews 11:6.
A faith filled approach is to say, “Lord, I am trusting that You are the One who has given me this day. You are the One who has given me breath and alertness to wake up. Therefore, I am going to get out of this bed, believing that Your mercies are new and fresh and Your grace will meet me where I need it. In You alone I have life and breath and meaning and purpose and I take heart in that. I get out of bed this morning in faith.”
To some of you, that may be silly but honestly, to me, it is essential. I am so weak!! I need to renew my faith in God in the most simple, mundane of things!
I will also be the first to say that much of my daily activity is just plain sinful. Not because it is morally wrong, but because it isn’t done in confidence and simple trust in God. It is so easy to operate on auto-pilot, amen? It is easy to just do what’s required of us and not stay plugged in to the promises of God for those small things.
Yet this is how the just live… by faith. Each day. Each activity. Each small, insignificant thing. That’s how I want to live today. Lord, help us to take the small leaps every day, every minute, from the time we wake to the time we sleep. And we know we have this confidence in You, the One who has granted us everything we need pertaining to life and godliness. Amen!
Recommended: John Piper’s message on Romans 14:23
Rikki says
I love that. Thanks you for this today!