Challenge!

By Pastor Eric

Now there’s a word that most Christians don’t like hearing. Let’s face it, no one likes to face challenges in life. However, they are absolutely necessary to our spiritual growth. Without challenge there can be no growth in our faith, yet that’s what most people strive for.

Growing from faith to faith as it says in (Romans 1:17 “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”) is part of our process. We learn to show the glory of God in our lifestyle. We live by our faith. The greater glory comes as we face challenges to our faith.

Jesus showed us in the book of John chapter 11. Lazarus brother of Mary and Martha got sick, and they wanted Him to come and heal him. That didn’t happen as you know. Jesus waited until Lazarus had been buried and it looked like nothing could be done. Martha saw Jesus and said if you had only gotten here sooner, my brother wouldn’t  died. See, they knew about healing. They had seen that level of glory. Look at verse 15 “ And I (Jesus) am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.” He wanted to show them another level of glory.

This is what the Lord is wanting to accomplish in us, bringing us from one level of faith, one level of glory to another. You believe and have seen Him heal your sore throat, now see Him raise the dead. See Him get that promotion for you. See your relationships get better. Let Him take you way beyond this level of faith to the next and the next.

Don’t be satisfied with where you are now, allowing yourself to become complacent in your faith. When the challenges come, face them and grow from glory to glory!