In His Likeness w/ AntTBri

“Therefore,  brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith” 1 Thessalonians 3:7

Have you ever seeded into good ground? Spoke a word, shared your faith, stood your ground, stuck with the God plan and stayed with the promise because you believed in God, yourself and others? People that plant seeds, do so expecting a harvest. Persons that make a deposit do so expecting a return on their investment.  Such is the case with parents, pastors and persons of influence. They live and they love pouring out of themselves so others will be blessed and benefit  from their experience, expertise and expressions of active faith.   They live and love mindful of those endeavoring,  enduring and earnest in their faith?  How encouraging and settling it is to witness active faith  in the lives of those God used you to minister to? How incredibly inspiring it is to find your toiling has not been invain or for nought…that they got it…active faith?

It is not always easy  but it is very possible,  profitable and perfectly normal for the believer to live and love increasing in faith, investing in faith and immersed in faith.  Life and love requires active faith. Demonstrative faith is the believers insurance that s/he pleases God.  It is also inspiration for the work of life and love. We have faith in God.  As we believe in God, faith in God becomes faith in  what God can and will do. Our faith increases or grows and we start living and loving invested in the outcome.  The more we see faith in God works the more we share the results of active faith. So not  only are we invested we began investing in the lives and loves of others.  Before we know it we’re fully immersed in the lifestyle of active faith.

The process of acquring or growing into active faith is not immediate.  There are tests, trials, temptations that grow and groom active faith.  Active faith is not a declaration or discussion it is a display of development. It develops as we hear the Word of God. Active faith is encouraged and it can be strengthened. It’s no wonder Paul felt such an urgency to send Timothy to find out about their faith. Verses 1 and 5 speaks to the intensity of his concern/worry that their faith had derailed.  The NIV  prefaces both verses with “when we/ I could stand it no longer”.  At first glance one might think he was merely referring to the not knowing if they were still in the faith.  But as we continue to read he speaks to and of the relationship between them.  It’s a concern about faith and love…reciprocal need and desire (6). 

Active faith strengthens relationship.  We grow in faith together. Paul was saying in essence,  hearing of or witnessing your active faith helps, encourages, strengthens me in my distress or go through.  You’re faith is growing me, it is adding to my quality of life (8). Now versus then is profitable. Then I was doing all the giving/ pouring out.  Now you’re helping me to see the value of/in increasing, investing and living and loving immersed in active faith.  While in distress, while suffering persecution I’m encouraged about what God is doing with you.  How God is growing and grooming you.  I’m proud, honored, blessed to be apart of the process…to be remembered as a blessing and beneficial.

Verse 10 absolutely blows me away…active faith inspires further action. Can you imagine that your display/demonstration of faith creates an urgency of earnest prayer on your behalf? Continuous request unto the Lord from a person who loves and has faith with you to not only be allowed to see you but to also be able to supply what is needed to help you live and love active in faith.  Sounds like willingness…sounds like want to…sounds like can’t wait to right? It makes you pause and thank God for His grace, goodness and gifts. Paul was affirming and validating the relationship, the connection. He was saying I’m invested in your increase/outcome because you stayed with God, you’re still standing, and I know you could have given up or thrown it all away. You didn’t that is more than I expected. There are levels of shock and awe to your life and love of active faith. 

Active faith fights for life and love in the future. It seeds into good ground. It waits for the harvest and doesn’t mind the process. It sticks, it stays…it stands upon the Word.  Active faith believes in God’s plan, purpose and promise.  Active faith displays resolve, resilience and roughs it out no matter what. It moves mountains, it ushers in change, gives way to the possible. Active faith and active love ensures outcomes, opportunities and overflow.  If it’s good at this level active faith and active love will make it great on going. Look for that! Live for that! Love for that! We’re going to live and love pushing and pulling eachother to active faith. Wow, that’s good news.  God allows us to find growth,  grace and goodness within relationships that are active in faith and active in love. 

Prayer: According to verses 12-13 “May the Lord make our love increase and overflow for eachother…may he strengthened our hearts and keep us living and loving in active faith always.~AntTBri