I continue the emphasis on faith, as it is so important that we understand faith’s necessity in the operation of the Spiritual Gifts, the Prophetic Ministry, and in our daily walk with Jesus. Faith comes to us as a result of a personal relationship with Jesus. He is “the Author (“originator”) and Finisher (“perfecter”) of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). He speaks to those who will listen, and then we have to respond in faith by showing God we believe what He tells us. In Galatians 5:6 we are told that to live in Christ Jesus it is “faith working through love.” That personal relationship with Jesus is first and foremost a love relationship. We have fallen in love with Jesus, and that love causes us to want to please Him more than anyone or anything else. When we respond out of love ~ and in love ~ we will be motivated right, and will get the right results. Love always puts yourself in the other person’s shoes.

In all Christian ministry love must be the motivating factor of what we say and do. Jesus gave us a huge challenge when He said: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). This commandment of Jesus supersedes all others. Notice the standard, quality, depth and strength of the love we are called to have is the same as Jesus loves us! That takes Jesus being Lord of our lives, and it takes faith to live in the reality of what He has spoken in these verses. Notice also that Jesus said it is only by our love for one another that everyone will know we are His disciples. It is not our ministry, good works, giftings, church attendance, talents, abilities, etc., but our love for one another! So, how strongly do we love one another? This is something that we have to work on continually, as love is not a gift. It is something we have to learn. We have to consciously work on building better relationships with our Christian Brothers and Sisters.

Faith is not about performance or showing off to others what we can do. It is allowing the love of Jesus to flow through us at all times, so the “Author and Finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ” gets the glory through whatever we do. When we exercise our faith the Bible way, others will always see Jesus in what we do. That then opens the door of opportunity to be able to share Him and His love with others. To function in “faith that works through love” means we do need to know the will of God and what He has called us to be and do. It is by our love ~ not our faith, church attendance, good works, etc. ~ that all men will see that we are Jesus’ disciples! To make a real impact in today’s world we need that faith which works through love! Are you strongly motivated by love in all that you do? It is the Jesus way ~ Rodney W. Francis.

Bible  Readings:  Galatians 5:1-6;   John 13:34-35;  1 Corinthians 13.

Please Pray This Prayer:

“Dear God, I come to You in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and I ask You to help me to be more conscious of the need to be loving my brothers and Sisters more than anything else. Teach me how to love them more. Help me to be humble enough to listen to You, to recognize You, and to be servant-hearted enough to respond to You in faith and obey what You say to me. Help me to eliminate those doubts that stop me from responding to what You ask of me. I really do want to do Your will, and to be an effective and fruitful minister of Your Supernatural Gospel in my day and generation. I desire to fulfil Your vision for my life! Thank You, Lord. Please speak to me today. In Jesus' name, I pray these things. Amen."

The Gospel Faith Messenger Ministry,  New Zealand. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.