Monday, September 14, 2009

How Can I Have Reckless Faith?

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

In Luke 7 : Jesus said, “Not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” What was it that Jesus had called “great faith”? How do we have great faith, or reckless faith?

Lets take a look at this entire passage from Luke:

Luke 7: 1-10 - The Faith of the Centurion
1When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, 5because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." 6So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." 10Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

The centurion used a personal example to illustrate that he understood what it meant to be taken at His word and obeyed. Jesus said to him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”

Jesus seemed to be saying that “great faith” was simply taking Him at His word. Most of us try to make having great faith something really complex or serious, when it appears that Jesus just wants us to believe, without a shadow of doubt, that He is the Savior.

Hebrews 11 is often referred to as “faith’s hall of fame,” and in these verses there are countless examples of other people who took God at His word.

After reading and rereading the passage, with all its references to the phrase “by faith,” I began to see that all the people mentioned had one thing in common:

No matter whom the writer of Hebrews was talking about, each person had simply taken God at His word and obeyed His command. Without a shadow of doubt. Without hesitating. Without questioning. Without fear.

They are reconized and remembered in the Bible for their faith, and for acting on that faith, even if it seemed reckless.

God told Noah to build an ark because He was going to bring a massive flood. Noah took God at His word and built the ark.

God told Abraham to go out to a place that he would receive as an inheritance. Abraham took God at His word, left his familiar surroundings, and he went.

God indicated to Sarah, who was long past the age of childbearing, that she would conceive a son. The Scripture states: “She considered Him faithful who had promised.”She took God at His word.

Do you want to have reckless faith today? If your answer is yes, then just start trying to take God at His Word. Instead of questioning whether you think that what He has called you to do makes common sense, or if His call lines up with your ideas and plans, just take Him at is Word.

Believe what His Word promises.

Believe that He has equipped you to step out in obedience.

Believe that He has a plan and a purpose for you, if you fave great faith.

Great faith requires us to act according to our belief in Jesus's Word, and not act according to our feelings or own human rationale. If we allow our human feelings to prevent us from saying yes to God, we will never see what amazing things He can do through us and in our lives. As a result, we will miss out on the awesome and incredible opportunities to live out our lives exercising great faith. We will miss our opportunities to step out of the boat, and letting others see His greatness, through us.

Dont let fear paralyze you from moving forward. Ask God to help you have reckless faith today.

How Can I Have Reckless Faith?SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

11 comments:

Carol Davis said...

Tracie,
Thank you SO much for your devotion today! I needed a reckless push!!! Thank you!

Jill Beran said...

Tracie, I love this post and it's just what I needed to hear. Just last week I stepped out there and did an interview with a secular newspaper in my hometown about my up-coming book. Feelings have definitely been consuming me a bit more than faith lately and that's not a good thing. The article will come out on Weds. and though I worry about other's reaction, especially family, I know I have to trust. Thanks for the reminder today. Your words also led me back to my blog as I recently posted my Saturday night speaker eval talk from She Speaks titled, "Look at Me." Based on Peter as well. Thanks again, God is speaking through you and I'm blessed to hear what He has to say, Jill

Anonymous said...

Hi Traie,
I have a very clear understanding now of chapter 11 in your book.

Pray for me....I'm always more of a doubting Thomas.

God Bless!
Rhonda

Joyful said...

Tracie, I can't help but think of Steven Curtis Chapman's song, "For the Sake of the Call" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22F7U3sJp28) Oh may I abandon it all for the sake of His call.

How is God calling me to be reckless today? Honestly, I don't know...yet...but I'm listening.

God is using you my friend. Keep writing and sharing for Him.

Blessings,
Joy

Angie said...

I first heard it from you. Nothing is ironic, it is God speaking. And He has been speaking to me for the last four days.

I attended a women's conference this weekend. I have adopted a prayer that Amy Carroll has said she will pray before each confrence she attends.

"Lord, speak One thing clearly to me. Help me to carry away one life changing, heart altering truth. Make the One thing jump out clear to me."

I began praying this early in the week. Faith has been something I have been struggling with lately. I feel that faith comes from experience. Praying for something and then seeing the results in an answered prayer.

My walk with God is pretty new and there are things that I am still unsure of, things I am still learning. So someone telling me to have faith about a situation still sends those mind wheels turning. There are things I just don't grasp.

So as I prayed for the conference, He began speaking to me about faith. Now I can also relate to your story about a verse almost "haunting" you. Hebrews 11:6has been that verse.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

This has weighed on my heart because because of the part that say "it is impossible to please God."

So first thing Friday morning I read a blog, discussing faith and she referred to Hebrews 11:6. The speaker at the conference, she talked about faith, Sunday School yesterday, a blog yesterday, a sermon someone sent me, your devotion this morning and now your blog. Maybe you think that is a little too much. Someone may have gotten the nudge after the second situation. But God knew I needed all this. I have found that I can be a little stubborn. Not for my own selfish reasons but it is a battle with Satan. He has had my heart at such a distance from God for many years and he does not give up without fighting.

So the One thing has been faith. I prayed for Him to show me that One thing and I see now that I had to have faith that He would show me.

My process is baby steps. But I will continue to take those baby steps.

Thank you for sharing this today! I almost feel like saying..."That's a wrap!" to my faith filled weekend!

Unknown said...

Hey Tracie, Thanks for that devotion, I really like the way you explained "reckless faith" I love it. Missed you this weekend, Zoe was a blessing to us all! Have a great week!

tabrownwv said...

Hi Tracie,
I enjoyed reading your devotion today. I recently had 'reckless' faith about something that I've been contemplating for some time. It was a very hard decision, but I strongly believe it was God's will for me. I'm still struggling with it and don't know what the final outcome will be, but I am trusting & having faith that God will see me through it - one step at a time.
Tiffany

Cyndie said...

I loved the devotion from today and am so excited at its "timing" in my life. I just returned home from leading a bible study at my church about living life with eternal purpose (based on the Crazy Love book) and I was so blessed to walk in the door and read your devotion! It is spot on! I am linking you to my blog for the day to share it with my readers! Thanks so much!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your devotion today! Recklessness scares me...I'm a cautious person by nature. But when it comes to doing what Jesus asks, a leap of faith can only land me right in His arms. Thanks.

Mariellen said...

Thanks Tracie so much for your devotion today. I am in a place in life right now where I need to be reckless for God. I however, am ashamed to say I doubt way to much. Thanks that you follow God and live out his will for you by being brave enough to write publically.

Mariellen

Micca said...

Great devotion, Tracie! Loved the title and loved the content. Thanks for calling us to a reckless faith!