Probably the most vivid and inexplicable example of faith in the Bible, next to the example of Noah, is that of Abraham, who believed beyond reason that Sarah, his elderly wife, would bear Abraham a son in his own old age. Even though he believed God, Abraham and Sarah contrived to provide a proxy son for themselves. The unfolding of this story is the unfolding of the faith that God ascribed to Abraham: Abraham believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6) The birth of Isaac and Abraham’s offering him as a sacrifice all worked to deepen and focus Abraham’s faith in God. Many years, and many prophets, messengers, and leaders would reacquaint the Hebrew people with the God of Abraham until God sent His son, who would display a living faith so full, that it survived a brutal death on the cross. Jesus spoke often of a living faith: He got up and rebuked the raging waters; the storm subsided and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. (Luke 8:24)

St. Paul wrote of faith and the nature of faith: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) If faith is a gift, then it is an interaction between the giver and the receiver. Abraham believed God as he would believe a close friend or family member. He didn’t even question God’s promise, but Sarah laughed at it while still believing. Faith is alive between two or more who care for each other. It enlarges the bond between God and a person. Faith in invisible , intangible, and motivating. The author of the Book of Hebrews wrote, Now faith is confidence in what we hope for, and assurance about what we do not see,” ( Hebrews 11:1) Confidence and assurance are hallmarks of a living faith.

In 1980 Pope St. John Paul II wrote in his Spiritual Diary concerning preachers and teachers, “He who does not have faith can communicate concepts, but only a person of faith can communicate faith.” (page 161) Jesus mentioned his surprise when he encountered faith in the spirit of a Roman Centurion: “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” (Mathew 8:10) It is one of only two times in the New Testament that Jesus was surprised. He found faith in an unexpected place. I have hope that we can still surprise Jesus with faith alive in some unexpected places of our hearts.

Love in Him,

Prue