Last Friday and Saturday, I spent about 6 1/2 hours walking a group of students (most around the ages of 19-20) through the Bible. The students are a part of a one year training experience which emphasizes training in both ministry and the Word. The program, which is sponsored by CE National (one of the cooperating organizations of the Grace Brethren Fellowship) carries the label "The 4:12 Commission." This name comes from 1 Timothy 4:12. In this verse, the apostle Paul writes the following to a much younger Timothy, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." This was the third August I have taught a Bible orientation to the 4:12 students. I have always been glad .... no, thrilled to do so! Why? For this very simple reason. The Bible says that without faith, it is impossible to please God (see Hebrews 11:6). And elsewhere we are told that we as God's people are to be characterized by a walk of faith (see 2 Corinthians 5:7). Faith is a vital component in the Christian life. Without it we can neither please God nor live life (at least as God intended us to live it!). So from where do we get our faith? What is the source of faith? In Romans 10, Paul gives us the answer. He says that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). As we interact with God's Word, His Spirit takes that word and grows our faith. So the better we know God's Word the stronger our faith will be. Now please keep in mind that when I talk about knowing God's Word - I am also talking about obeying God's Word. Knowing and obeying the Word of God are inseparably joined together in the Bible. Jesus in his "Great Commission" tells the church to make disciples "teaching them TO OBEY everything that I have commanded you." So at the end of the day, as we grow in our Bible knowledge that impacts how we live out our days, the stronger and deeper our faith in God will grow. That's why I love to teach the Word of God to the people of God! And that's why I spent last weekend in Indiana.
Thanks for listening,
pj
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