Defining Faith
Since the pandemic started last spring, we have sent out more than 20 messages of Faith Over Fear. My prayer is that they have provided some measure of hope and encouragement in the face of our difficult times.
With this segment, we get back to the basics of defining “faith.” It has deeper meaning than you may think, and is more active than passive. Our lesson comes from Jill Carattini of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta.
Blessed to be a Blessing,
Greg Syfan,
President, Syfan Logistics
“Thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.”
Ezekiel 34: 11
Defining Faith
Language is a deep well. With words, there is often more than meets the eye.
By way of introduction to the word “faith,” the book of Hebrews speaks of men and women, people of history exhibiting faith themselves, following hard after God in trust and obedience. The writer imparts a definition of faith that seems fairly countercultural to modern assumptions. Faith in God is more than believing God exists. Faith is seeking the God who finds us, which is the detail of utmost importance.
The Greek word that is usually translated “seek” in this passage is actually a compound word meaning to “seek out.” The latter is deliberately more intense. It is not merely “seeking.” It is seeking actively something that will be found.
The careful words of the writer of Hebrews remind us not only that we are able to seek one who can and wants to be found, but that we are able to seek one who has found us. We seek the one who came among us, willing that none would be lost.
God’s desire to seek you is not abstract, and faith’s seeking of God is no abstraction.