Light Steps: Perfecter of our Faith

Friday, February 14, 2020

Perfecter of our Faith

The Spirit going where He dares...

The Bible says Jesus is the "...author and finisher of our faith..." He's begun the work and finished the work. Sin is paid for. Death is defeated. It's a done deal.

But, none of us are born knowing the work is done, nor are any of us born being convinced of our need for the finished work. So, Jesus champions the cause of making sure we know. He pioneers the work in each of us. He authors the truth in a fresh way to each of us individually. He digs in and founds a new work in every person. He is the source of us coming to understand our need for Him! And, friend, that's the point! He shows us our need of Him and leads us to receive His finished work.

pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

He is "...the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." (NLT)
He is "...the founder and perfecter of our faith..." (ESV)
He is "...the author and perfecter of faith..." (NASB)
He is "...the author and finisher of our faith..." (KJV)
He is "...the source and perfecter of our faith..." (HCSB)

He sends the Spirit where He dares! He dares to come after and into my heart! He dares to come after and into your heart! Jesus dares pursue paupers and kings; presidents and drug addicts; murderers, thieves, gossips, self-righteous...UNBELIEVERS! None is so bad that He does not dare go unto them! None is so good they do not need His individual, personal work!

"We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne." (Hebrews 12:2 NLT)

Why endure the cross? Why deal with the shame? Why? It is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe. And, if any would believe, it will take a personal, daring work of God. He shows us! He writes the truth of God on our hearts, causes us to see our need and causes us to trust His finished work.

Thank God the Spirit goes where Jesus dares!

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This Says it for Me!

Every Christian is a contradiction to this old world. He crosses it at every point. He goes against the grain from beginning to end. From the day that he is born again until the day that he goes on to be with the Lord, he must stand against the current of a world always going the other way. God expects him to be "beside himself," "a fool for Christ's sake," "drunk on new wine." If he allows it, men will tone him down, steal the joy of his salvation, and reduce him to the dreary level of the general average. If the devil cannot keep us from being saved, he next endeavors to make average Christians of us, and in this he usually succeeds. He tames the holy recklessness of God's dare-saints until they sink into the drab pattern of most of us, "faultily faultless, icily regular, splendidly dull." The devil does not mind our joining church if we behave like most of those who are already inside. But when a real, wide-awake Christian breezes along, taking the Gospel seriously, the devil grows alarmed and begins plotting his downfall. He gets plenty of assistance right in the church, for many church folk do not like to have their Laodicean complacency upset by these who turn the world upside down. So they conspire with Satan to turn the young Christian's fever into a chill. There are always plenty of human wet blankets to smother the zealot's flame, and they have put out more spiritual fires than have all the skeptics and infidels. -- Vance Havner

A Little About Me...

I was born in South Boston, VA, but was raised on the state line in the Person Co., NC - Caswell Co., NC - Halifax Co., VA region. I always tell people you know you are a country boy when your idea of being a "multi-national" means you've been to three counties in your lifetime.

Enough of my geographical meanderings...I became a Christian (ask me about THAT!) at the age of 25 and have done my utmost to serve God since that day. I worked as an associate pastor for 4 1/2 years and now serve in the role of Executive Director of My Life Matters, where I've been since March 2005, and I also serve as the pastor of East Rock Community Church, a church plant, along with fellow elders, Brett Carver & Casey Adams, where we've been since June 2007.

I love to write. I share a devotion in our local paper each week. This blog site is really just an extension of my writing. I really hope to share the Word of God with people...any kind of people, every kind of person. I also do a weekly podcast called "Light Steps Live," which can be found on several platforms.

Thanks for "stopping by"! Y'all come back now, ya hear?