Faith

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,

the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

And without faith it is impossible to please God,

for whoever would draw near to God must believe that

he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

I've been teaching (and learning) about these verses in Sunday school. One thing I've learned while teaching Sunday School is that whether your 8 or 28, the lessons are the same. While the Lord is certainly mysterious and his ways often beyond my full understanding, the lessons he wants us to learn are quite simple. It's living them out that can be as complicated as I make it. It all comes down to faith. It only gets complicated when my pride, selfishness and expectations get in the way.

That's why I have trouble sharing the gospel. Not because it isn't good news, it's great news. It's that humans want the answers to such tough questions before they're willing to believe. My problem is that I don't have those answers, and I'm not sure anybody really does. While my life experience has given my numerous examples that the Lord can be trusted, that doesn't mean that your faith journey will play out the same way, or that I don't still have questions.

On hearing it, many of his disciples said,

"This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"...

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

John 6:60 & 66-69