author | Continually Seeking Him

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
Luke 17:5 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.17.5.NASB1995

How is faith increased?
Is it by trusting in the giver of faith?
By the word of God?

¹Hebrews 12:2 Jesus is the author and perfecter of faith.
²Romans 10:17 faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
³Colossians 1:23 Continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast in the hope of the gospel.

Is faith increased by the encouragement and fellowship with one another?

⁴1 Thessalonians 3:2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,

⁵2 Timothy 1:13 Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

⁶Philemon 1:5-7 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints; and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake. For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Faith is our assurance of things hoped for.

⁷Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

⁸James 1:3 NASB1995
So let us run this race called life knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance.

🌹For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
1 John 5:4 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/1jn.5.4.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

¹ https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.12.2.NASB1995

² https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.10.17.NASB1995

³ https://bible.com/bible/100/col.1.23.NASB1995

⁴ https://bible.com/bible/100/1th.3.2.NASB1995

⁵ https://bible.com/bible/100/2ti.1.13.NASB1995

⁶ https://bible.com/bible/100/phm.1.5-7.NASB1995

⁷ https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.11.1-6.NASB1995

⁸ https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.1.3.NASB1995

My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.
James 2:1 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.1.NASB1995

I’ll be honest. I struggled with the meaning of this verse. I was not satisfied with the commentaries I consulted and the different translations just confused me.

But God . . .

I understand that the interpretation of the Word of God should be viewed in the context, in this case, of the letter, but I kept coming back to a personal viewpoint. (Which I truly believe was guided by the Holy Spirit).

“Personal favoritism.” Was I looking at myself? Was I thinking I am something special because I belong to the Lord? I will confess that I am truly blessed and my Lord God is a very, very special part of my life but do I act as if I am above others because of all the blessings God has given me? Do I think and act as if I am one of His favorites? That would not be very humble of me. I needed to change my viewpoint, all of God’s children are His personal favorite.

For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.
Deuteronomy 10:17 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/deu.10.17.NASB1995

As God’s child we can feel pretty special but all are special in God’s sight. Jesus shed His blood for all people. He called me to walk with Him. I made a choice to follow. He does the rest. I’m still a flawed sinner saved by grace. There have been many, many people of faith who have done extraordinary service to and for the Lord but not without God enabling them.

🌹Look to Jesus . . .

. . . the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.12.2.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org