Word of Faith

How many times have we said to someone “You have my word?” How often have we said concerning someone that “He or she is a person of their word?” Saying that means if a person said they were going to do something they would do it. It is an honorable thing to be considered a man or woman of your word. We all need to strive to be that person so that others can believe in and count on us.

 In John 5:46-54, there is a story told about a man who was a royal official and had a son who was very sick and about to die. This man had heard that Jesus was in Cana of Galilee, so he left his home in Capernaum to meet up with him. When he got to where Jesus was he asked him to come back with him to his home to heal his dying son. Jesus simply replied to this man “Go your way; your son lives.” The Bible then goes on to say this man believed the word that Jesus had just told him, and he set off for his home.” As he was making the trip back his servants met him along the way and told him that his son was alive. The man asked what time his son got better, and the servants answered, “At the seventh hour.” The man then remembered that was the same time that Jesus had told him his son was living. From that moment on the Bible says this man and his whole household believed.

The amount of faith this father had is incredible. Imagine you have a child who is about to die, and you make a long trip to the one person who can heal them. When you get there, you're expecting and hoping this person will come to your house, see your child and heal them. Instead, when you get there you only have five or ten minutes with that person and they then send you on your way- with a word saying your child is healed. How much faith would that require? For most of us, it would take all the faith we had especially since it was not happening how we had anticipated it would. This man though the Bible says believed the word of Jesus to him regarding his child. Yes, he wanted Jesus to go with him because he probably thought by having Jesus physically there was the only way his son would be healed. Yet the story teaches us the power of Jesus was not and is not limited to only "Up close and personal- or even in person." This story also shows us the words of Jesus carry great power and can reach anyone no matter how far away they are- there are no distance requirements with God.

Imagine this man as he set off to go home, what he might have been thinking as he traveled. I'm sure he was thinking about his son and how he didn't want him to die. About how much he loved him and couldn't wait to get home to be with him. Do you think though for even one-minute he thought to himself "What if my son is dead when I get home- what if he isn't alive like Jesus said?" If he did I'm sure that thought did not last for long because of what was stated earlier, in that he believed the word told him by Jesus. Those words were the only thing he had to hold onto, the only thing that kept him going. When his servants came and met him imagine how relieved he had to have been to know that Jesus' words were true and that he chose to believe in Him. Based on that whole event, as stated earlier, he and his whole family believed. 

For many of us, we are making that daily walk of faith. We are taking each step out of faith and holding on to that word that God has told us. For some maybe the word was spoken a long time ago and your walk of faith seems like a never-ending journey, but hold on to it, because it will prove faithful. Whenever we go to Jesus for answers or help we are going in faith for the answer. So, when the answer is given to us we have a choice to make- either accept it or not. We must decide if we are going to walk in faith in the words  He has spoken to us and trust Him, or not. We may not understand everything He has told us or even how He chooses to go about answering us, but we must trust Him. We must take every word He has spoken to us and pave our walk of faith with them. Knowing that God has given us His words to build our faith for every situation we face is a wonderful gift.

So do not give up on what God has said will be for you or your family- know God is a God who never lies and for you is always working. Also, remember though His work is never just about us, it always involves someone else- that someone who will believe because of what they see manifested through us and our situations. So, take your word of faith and walk with your head held high knowing you have been given words of life, healing and you have nothing to fear. Know whatever God has said will be and that is the only thing you can truly trust. So now go and walk in faith!

From Gardens of Splendor by Gina Burns