what is faith?
"Faith is confident assurance concerning what we hope for, and conviction about things we do not see." —Hebrews 11:1
We are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8). "All depends on faith, everything is grace" (Rm 4:16). Therefore, faith in the Lord is absolutely necessary. However, this presents a problem because we are lacking in faith (see Mk 4:40). Jesus asks: "When the Son of Man comes, will He find any faith on the earth?" (Lk 18:8) We must cry out to the Lord: "I do believe! Help my lack of faith!" (Mk 9:24, our transl.)
"Faith is confident assurance" (Heb 11:1). It is a solid, substantial assurance of security, stability, affirmation, and unconditional love. We can rest assured, for the Lord is our Rock (see Ps 18:3) and our Abba (see Mt 6:9; Gal 4:6). We are securely held in His loving arms.
Faith is the result of a very good relationship. To have such substantial, confident assurance of God's love, we must truly and deeply know the Lord. Jesus taught and prayed: "Eternal life is this: to know You, the only true God, and Him Whom You have sent, Jesus Christ" (Jn 17:3). Paul prayed: "I wish to know Christ" (Phil 3:10). We too should pray to know God so as to have faith in Him.
Prayer: Father, may my love for You result in faith in You. May this faith cause me to experience the "breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love" (Eph 3:18). May this deeper love result in deeper faith.
Promise: "All of these died in faith." —Heb 11:13
Praise: A tremendously anointed minister to youth, St. John Bosco required kindness in all his fellow youth ministers. He said: "The young should know that they are loved."
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 30, 2014
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