Faith is such a personal thing we don’t like to talk about it to just anybody. Anymore, conversations regarding faith are limited to the closest of friends and family. Discussions of theology are much safer in a crowd. Faith, not so much.

I get it—I often use the false statement of “my faith.” The trust I have in God is so a part of the fabric of my life that I falsely believe it is “my faith.” I know what you are thinking…if it is not my faith then whose is it?

The ability to trust in God comes from God. Dr. Luther rightly says this in the Small Catechism, “I believe that by my own reason or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in true faith.”

Faith in God is a gift from God. We certainly do have the strength to reject that gift but the gift of faith is still a present from God through Jesus Christ. There is no such thing as “my faith” unless there is an acknowledgment that it was given to you.

Yet the fact remains that some in this world have this gift and some do not. I can only rely on the words of Jesus in John 3:8 when he says, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” For us, it is a mystery why some accept this gift and some do not. I know that is not satisfying to hear, but that is what we are told. Yes- pride, control and power do affect our ability to receive the gift of faith but there are others to whom this does not apply.

The truth remains that faith is a gift to be received and not taken or re-created from within. St. Paul says as much in Ephesians 2:8, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

St. Paul knows better than anyone that faith in Christ is a gift and not something you find on your own. God literally brought St. Paul to faith in Jesus on the road to Damascus by blinding him and knocking him off his horse. (See Acts 9.) St. Paul was an enemy of Christ and His Church. On his own, St. Paul would never, ever believe in Jesus. Not only did God give St. Paul the gift of faith, God had to force it down his proverbial throat.

St. Paul understood that faith only comes from God. I would imagine most of us did not need to be force-fed belief in Jesus. Even so, it is still a gift.

Once it is given, it must be nourished and strengthened not unlike a houseplant. If you don’t water, fertilize and give a houseplant sunlight—it will eventually die. Faith too must be nurtured or it will lie dormant like a seed in the ground- full of unrealized potential.

Worship, pray, connect with others, study and serve are things necessary to grow the gift God has given you. Yes, you are free to do whatever you want, but if you wish to grow, it will require effort. Devoting yourself to growing closer to God is a worthy endeavor.

God bless you!
PB