Loved the NPR article. And while I could go into great detail (my grandson and I discussed it at length after reading it -- he's headed back to college today and is a bit of a math geek so I knew he'd love it, too. As we finished our discussion, he turned to me and posited, "So ... everything is relative." ;) My response: "Between you and I?" He chuckled and almost simultaneously we said, "Good things come in small packages."
As to the question on tension: no tension here.
Ephesians 2:8-10 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." God's grace (giving us what we don't deserve) and mercy (not giving us what we do deserve) are gifts. Volition is deciding whether to accept it or not. I think Sarah's story provides us with the answer of acceptance/the option to believe, trust, and obey. The stories of faith found here in Chapter 11, serve as examples/a record of those who chose to believe, trust, and obey. And yes, IMHO, the "human 'yes'" is vitally important -- God created us with free will; He wants us, but I feel strongly that He wants us to want to love Him. If that makes any sense.
"Volition v. Divine Sovereignty," eh? Much has been written and it makes for some excellent reading!
Power is a good word. God does give us that power to choose. Yes, free will submitted engages the faith journey. I liked the ideas that Susan shared in Ephesians.
Faith, free will, and the gift of faith are all interconnected. JL gave us a good one to ponder today.
I love the sweet story you shared about the NPR article and your grandson! I loved the article too. I shared it with my son who is loves science as well. It is amazing to ponder God's greatness and knowing the strength of the small things.
I forgot about this scripture in Ephesians. I am glad you did! If I am understanding your example, the "gift" is that God provided a way. The free will is us saying yes to take and accept the gift. Then, God has a way to work in/through faith.
Faith is a choice . I believe God loves us so much, He gives us freedom of choice. However, I have to honestly say, I don't always act like I believe God will move mountains. I want to grow my faith and always say "yes" to God.
I grew up hearing strawman arguments for one side, but as I have talked with real people, real holy ones full of faith, I only see the hands and feet of Jesus moving and working alongside our Creator. I am reminded this morning of Jesus saying that, if the people were silent, then the rocks will shout praise. Another thought that comes to mind - Israel saying, "YES, we will follow your Torah!" and accepting the covenant on the mountain and then constantly wrestling with the way of Yahweh versus desiring their own way.
The work will continue with or without our willing participation, but from the very beginning Yahweh has wanted to partner with us.
When my small group students get in the weeds on this, I'll usually say some version of "yes to both questions." It's not faith or works. It's feet on both gas pedals.
Yes, Yahweh work will go on with our without us! We get the joy of being a part when we say yes. I agree, Yahweh wants to partner with us! I love that.
The questions: Did the people on this list have the ability to choose faith? Or was faith only a gift, something they didn’t have the opportunity to choose against? (I needed the questions front and center this morning.)
Good morning, all!
I believe that faith is a choice. In this simplicity, Yahweh makes an opportunity for all. Why? He wants all to come and be part of his greatness, forgiveness, renewing and work through faith. I also believe that there is a gift of faith. When I surrender my fear, will, unbelief to Yahweh, he has the ability to fulfill. That seed of faith is planted by Yahweh so that we may continue to grow in faith, submit our will, our desires, our fears, our unbelief to him again and again and grow in faith. What I love about this idea is that we all have access to the same faith. God is so good!
I think about the parable of the talents, Jesus shared. God gave some a 5 talents, 3 talents, and 1 talent. Does this mean that we have the talent of faith, or does he mean the talent of skill which I tend to side with. And in 1 Corinthians 12 Paul describes a gift of Faith. There is that too. I had a friend who's father was a missionary. He had the ability to heal. When sharing the testimonies of his work, he was introduced as having the gift of healing. When he spoke, he said, no, I do not have the gift of healing. I have the gift of faith. That is something interesting to ponder.
I believe in Yahweh's vastness, it is possible for both even though I do not fully understand it.
No tension just awe that as we travel with him, He gives us the faith to believe. I’m thinking about how scripture speaks to, everyone having their specified measure. I believe Holy Spirit then comes along side us as the resurrected Jesus did those on the road to Emmaus, and recount the scripture. I also think about how he can put in us the ability to believe.
I believe it’s all a choice. A choice to believe. A choice to have faith. I do enjoy this study. Looking at how it works together. Seeing God’s love for us. His pleasure in designing this world for us to live. And asking myself “how can I please Him more?”. But without faith…..
Partnership….i think it’s a good way to describe it.
The article says “Little things, if they're really little, can pile up just like big things” and we talked about how Sarah had faith in the promise for roughly 9,000 days.
To me it’s a reminder that I get the chance to partner with God not once, but over and over again. Some days my ‘yes’ may wobble, some days my yes may be shaky, in all days my yes may seem unsubstantial. But every day that I partner with Him, that small yes starts to pile up like grains of sand. (And He just might build a sand castle if I keep going 🏰)
Similar to what others have said, I think the gift is the invitation to partnership and we have a choice to engage. I also thought about Jesus saying the disciples had “little faith” (Matt 8:26 & 14:31). It would seem inconsistent with His character to chastise them for something they had no control over.
Loved the NPR article. And while I could go into great detail (my grandson and I discussed it at length after reading it -- he's headed back to college today and is a bit of a math geek so I knew he'd love it, too. As we finished our discussion, he turned to me and posited, "So ... everything is relative." ;) My response: "Between you and I?" He chuckled and almost simultaneously we said, "Good things come in small packages."
As to the question on tension: no tension here.
Ephesians 2:8-10 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." God's grace (giving us what we don't deserve) and mercy (not giving us what we do deserve) are gifts. Volition is deciding whether to accept it or not. I think Sarah's story provides us with the answer of acceptance/the option to believe, trust, and obey. The stories of faith found here in Chapter 11, serve as examples/a record of those who chose to believe, trust, and obey. And yes, IMHO, the "human 'yes'" is vitally important -- God created us with free will; He wants us, but I feel strongly that He wants us to want to love Him. If that makes any sense.
"Volition v. Divine Sovereignty," eh? Much has been written and it makes for some excellent reading!
I was thinking about the power of choice. God has given us the choice to follow or not. Free will is important in this faith journey.
Power is a good word. God does give us that power to choose. Yes, free will submitted engages the faith journey. I liked the ideas that Susan shared in Ephesians.
Faith, free will, and the gift of faith are all interconnected. JL gave us a good one to ponder today.
The article was amazing! Thanks for sharing. I always come back to this re: faith:
I believe! Help my unbelief.
i loved the article, too!
Love this, Susan.
Good morning, Susan,
I love the sweet story you shared about the NPR article and your grandson! I loved the article too. I shared it with my son who is loves science as well. It is amazing to ponder God's greatness and knowing the strength of the small things.
I forgot about this scripture in Ephesians. I am glad you did! If I am understanding your example, the "gift" is that God provided a way. The free will is us saying yes to take and accept the gift. Then, God has a way to work in/through faith.
Thank you for sharing! More to consider.
Faith is a choice . I believe God loves us so much, He gives us freedom of choice. However, I have to honestly say, I don't always act like I believe God will move mountains. I want to grow my faith and always say "yes" to God.
I too do not always act like it and I desire to grow in faith too! We know that God is faithful!
Loved your connection with Gabriel's visit to Mary, and Matthew and the mustard seed!
My summary of the verse begins with "because of Abraham and Sarah's faith AND God's power and faithfulness, ..." so I believe in a partnership, too!
I think faith is a gift and yet we choose to receive it and act on it by relying on God's promises and His character.
Can my answer just be "yes" to both questions?
I grew up hearing strawman arguments for one side, but as I have talked with real people, real holy ones full of faith, I only see the hands and feet of Jesus moving and working alongside our Creator. I am reminded this morning of Jesus saying that, if the people were silent, then the rocks will shout praise. Another thought that comes to mind - Israel saying, "YES, we will follow your Torah!" and accepting the covenant on the mountain and then constantly wrestling with the way of Yahweh versus desiring their own way.
The work will continue with or without our willing participation, but from the very beginning Yahweh has wanted to partner with us.
When my small group students get in the weeds on this, I'll usually say some version of "yes to both questions." It's not faith or works. It's feet on both gas pedals.
Well, yes! After all "Faith without works is dead." Both pedals to the mettle! ;)
Yes, Yahweh work will go on with our without us! We get the joy of being a part when we say yes. I agree, Yahweh wants to partner with us! I love that.
The questions: Did the people on this list have the ability to choose faith? Or was faith only a gift, something they didn’t have the opportunity to choose against? (I needed the questions front and center this morning.)
Good morning, all!
I believe that faith is a choice. In this simplicity, Yahweh makes an opportunity for all. Why? He wants all to come and be part of his greatness, forgiveness, renewing and work through faith. I also believe that there is a gift of faith. When I surrender my fear, will, unbelief to Yahweh, he has the ability to fulfill. That seed of faith is planted by Yahweh so that we may continue to grow in faith, submit our will, our desires, our fears, our unbelief to him again and again and grow in faith. What I love about this idea is that we all have access to the same faith. God is so good!
I think about the parable of the talents, Jesus shared. God gave some a 5 talents, 3 talents, and 1 talent. Does this mean that we have the talent of faith, or does he mean the talent of skill which I tend to side with. And in 1 Corinthians 12 Paul describes a gift of Faith. There is that too. I had a friend who's father was a missionary. He had the ability to heal. When sharing the testimonies of his work, he was introduced as having the gift of healing. When he spoke, he said, no, I do not have the gift of healing. I have the gift of faith. That is something interesting to ponder.
I believe in Yahweh's vastness, it is possible for both even though I do not fully understand it.
No tension just awe that as we travel with him, He gives us the faith to believe. I’m thinking about how scripture speaks to, everyone having their specified measure. I believe Holy Spirit then comes along side us as the resurrected Jesus did those on the road to Emmaus, and recount the scripture. I also think about how he can put in us the ability to believe.
I believe it’s all a choice. A choice to believe. A choice to have faith. I do enjoy this study. Looking at how it works together. Seeing God’s love for us. His pleasure in designing this world for us to live. And asking myself “how can I please Him more?”. But without faith…..
Partnership….i think it’s a good way to describe it.
"His pleasure in designing this world for us to live." YES!!!!!
(and if you haven't already, listen to the HGS Creation episodes!!!)
Yes! I finished the creation a few days ago!! Our God is an awesome God!
The article says “Little things, if they're really little, can pile up just like big things” and we talked about how Sarah had faith in the promise for roughly 9,000 days.
To me it’s a reminder that I get the chance to partner with God not once, but over and over again. Some days my ‘yes’ may wobble, some days my yes may be shaky, in all days my yes may seem unsubstantial. But every day that I partner with Him, that small yes starts to pile up like grains of sand. (And He just might build a sand castle if I keep going 🏰)
Gorgeous truth. Great seeing. Thank you for sharing!
Similar to what others have said, I think the gift is the invitation to partnership and we have a choice to engage. I also thought about Jesus saying the disciples had “little faith” (Matt 8:26 & 14:31). It would seem inconsistent with His character to chastise them for something they had no control over.
I love the way you phrased that.