“This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
I Corinthians 4:1-2
Second Hand Faith
I grew up watching my father in ministry from the time I was born. I watched the adults all around me and observed them as they taught me Sunday School lessons and songs in children’s choir. I listened to preachers as they explained scripture and that God so loved me that He gave His Son for me. I was nurtured and am thankful that I was given a strong foundation of faith.
But…
More than the words they said, I remember their actions of faith lived out before me. These moments are seared into my memory.
• I remember a Sunday School teacher’s love and devotion to her kids until her last breath as she died from breast cancer. It taught me to have faith in the storm.
• I remember celebrating my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. So many had shared testimonies of how they inspired them in their love for each other. It taught me to be faithful.
• I remember a former pastor falling from grace as he had an affair with one of the ladies in our church. I remember it causing his children to stray from their faith. It taught me to not place my faith in men.
• I remember my father holding the church together during the downfall of that pastor’s decision. I remember it taking a great toll on him. It taught me that men of faith must stand firm and strong when darkness comes.
• I remember the call to ministry and the long talk my father had with me. He was honest about the trials that would come. He didn’t really have to do that. I saw it for my own eyes. He asked hard questions that helped me to sort out God’s will. He taught me that my faith journey was personal and unique. My faith wasn’t his faith. My faith had to be my own.
The Takeaway
What we can take away from this is that our faith is being lived out before others. Our kids see it. Our wives see it. Our coworkers see it. The next generation sees it.
If we live a life of passivity, those who are watching us are going to learn from us a poor lesson of faith.
If you reject passivity, they will learn the blessings of a faithful life. Ultimately everyone’s faith is their own, but God has you here to be salt and light to impact those around you.
Travis Sellers
MD5 Lab Facilitator