Faith

Ok, so maybe that’s overstating it a bit… but the small decisions count. Honestly, I do think the small decisions we make each day count more than the big decisions we might make once a few times throughout our lives. Let me explain.

If I’m making good, wise, and courageously faithful small decisions then what kind of bid decisions do you think I’ll make?

On the other hand, if I’m blowing off small decisions as insignificant then I will be far more likely to be in a bad position to make wise choices about big decisions.

I do think it’s that simple.

Simple… yes. Easy… well, no.

Daily decisions count. That stack up on top of each other and set patterns like a small stream cutting its way through the desert. With time and repetition, decisions become habits, and habits shape and reshape our character.

All this being said: If you find your character lacking, and if you’ve been making consistently poor decisions, there is hope. There is hope through Christ, that our history doesn’t determine our future. There is hope through Christ, that today’s sin has already been atoned for. There is hope through Christ, that tomorrow’s temptation can be overcome through faithfully fighting sin with some close, trusted friends who are pursuing Christ with us. No matter how many bad decisions you’ve made, there is always hope to make the best decision possible… and that decision to repent of your sin and believe on Jesus Christ will impact your future decisions.

May the decisions we make today and every day (yes, even the “little decisions”) be good decisions, because every thing matters.

Faith isn’t necessary when you live in comfort, only doing things you can do “without” God. When you’re securely in your sweet-spot, you can live as if God doesn’t matter.

Yes, God is still necessary because He is the sustainer of life and yada, yada, yada. But, outside of common-grace, “Faith” is not necessary when God isn’t needed.

This is why Atheists and Christians can live so similarly most of the time. Because most Christians live so comfortably in their own bubble that faith in Christ is only saved for death or for seasons of suffering and difficulty, but not for daily life.

I don’t want to live like that. I want to live by faith, because I know that God is real, that he loves me, that the Gospel is true and that faith has meaning both for eternity and today. Will you join me in walking by faith?

We walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corithians 5:7

I’m not thinking about the “BIG” things in life… I’m thinking about the little things throughout the day/week.

This could lead us to be more generous when generosity doesn’t make sense, because God doesn’t hold back in providing for us.
Or we could attempt simple things that are difficult for us (even if they’re easy for others!), because we are trusting God to give us the strength we need to accomplish them.
Speaking up in that conversation because you’re trusting God to give you the right words and the right (humble and gracious) way to say them.
Taking the initiative in restoring a strained relationship, because you’re thankful God took the initiative to restore your relationship with Him.

I’d love to hear from you in the comments below: What are some other ways that walking by faith can make a real difference in how you/we live.

Note: I haven’t read “The Christian Atheist” by Craig Groeschel yet, but it looks good… if you’ve read it, please let me know what you thought. Many of these ideas were spurred years ago when I first studied Bonhoeffer’s “Letters and Papers from Prison” where he writes about the “World Come of Age.”

Living Theologically

theology and the Christian life

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There’s No Such Thing as a Small Decision

When Faith is Necessary