“…make every effort to add to your faith…” – 2 Peter 1:5 (NIV)
As Christians, what should our faith diet consist of?
Peter wrote that God has given us everything we need for life through our (growing) knowledge of Him. In 2 Peter 1:3-11, Peter lists character qualities that need to be added to our beginning point of faith for maturity to take place. This begs the question: What can you do to strengthen your faith? There are three possible ways to grow your faith.
Firstly, focus your faith. For some Christians, “faith” is just a vague feeling that easily fades away. But true faith has a focus: that focus is Jesus Christ. Focusing on Jesus Christ and asking Him to forgive you and come to live within you – He will. Scripture says, “Whoever has the Son has life…” (1 John 5:12).
Secondly, feed your faith. Just as we’ll grow weak and eventually die if we don’t eat, so our faith will grow weak and eventually die if we don’t feed regularly on the spiritual “food” God has given us: the Word of God, including prayer and fellowship with other believers.
The Bible says, “…faith comes from hearing…heard through the Word about Christ” (Romans 10:17 – NIV). A Christian’s weakness (‘kryptonite’) is doubt and unbelief that interrupt faith. Doubt and unbelief arise because we think we haven’t done everything right. Or believe that God helps a select few. Know that God doesn’t expect perfection from us. Hebrews 11:6 tells us it is impossible to please God without faith, and He desires to work in our lives through faith. He wants us to trust Him, believe in Him, have faith in Him, and have a hopeful and positive attitude. Expect Him to do good things in your lives.
Finally, follow your faith; that is, put it into action. As Christians, we need to be intentional, making it a priority to follow Christ daily in our thoughts, speech, actions, time, and love for others. Muscles grow stronger when they’re exercised, and so does faith. In growing our faith, we are living it out.
Scripture says that the righteous will live by faith (Hebrews 10:38). Some situations may cause us to want to shrink back. Yet as disciples of the Lord Jesus, we must press forward by faith. It’s not enough to hear and believe; we must also live it out. The Bible says, “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22 – NIV).
Read: 2 Corinthians 5:7; James 1:2-4
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 17:15-24; Romans 5:12-21; Amos 7; Amos 8; Amos 9