Proving Faith Through Divine Guidance in Christ Jesus

Introduction to Understanding Faith:

It is commonly misunderstood that faith is meant to be proven in a tangible or logical manner. In fact, faith, as described in the Bible, is the belief in something despite or because there is no proof. It is a trust in the unseen, the unproved. This does not mean that one's faith is without evidence or unimportant. Instead, the fruits of one's faith should naturally demonstrate a life transformed and influenced by divine principles.

Exemplifying Faith in the New Testament:

If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20, NIV)

Here, Jesus tells us that faith, no matter how small, can achieve extraordinary things. He emphasizes that faith, when placed in the right place, has the power to accomplish the impossible. This point is further reinforced in Romans 10:17, where it is stated: So faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Signs and Miracles as Evidence of Faith

The Bible also implores us to evaluate spirituality through actions and outcomes, rather than mere belief. Therefore by their fruits you will know them (Matthew 7:20, NIV). This means that just as one can measure the quality of a tree by its fruit, so too can one measure the quality of one's faith by the actions resulting from it.

Practicing Faith and Divine Guidance

To practice faith, Christians often seek divine guidance through prayer, expecting tangible evidence or signs of God's approval. When I pray, I seek God's direction for my life and set a sign for His affirmation. I eagerly await this sign as a confirmation. When it appears, I act on it. This is an active application of faith as seen in Romans 10:17.

For instance, when I asked God for His guidance and received a sign of approval, leading me to act on my prayers. Such actions often bring peace and success, as reflected in Isaiah 55:11: So is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire, and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

The verse in Matthew 4:4 further reinforces this: Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. This highlights the importance of having faith in the words of God, as God's revelation is always fresh and new.

Signs and Wickedness: Christ's Perspective

It is important to note that requesting signs is not wicked, as seen in Matthew 16:4: A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of [a] the prophet Jonah. Jesus refused to perform signs for a wicked generation, not because asking for signs is wrong, but because the people seeking signs were not sincere in their search for truth.

Indeed, many Christians around me seek the signs and guidance of God, and they often receive it. This is not haphazard; it is the result of a sincere and close relationship with God. When people misinterpret verses like Matthew 4:4 to mean a static scripture, they miss the dynamic nature of God's communication with His people.

Conclusion

Proving faith in Christ Jesus is not about demonstrating to others that we have a capacity for the impossible. Rather, it is about living a life in accordance with divine principles and showing the evidence of that faith through positive actions and outcomes. By setting signs and seeking divine approval, we can align our lives with God's will and truly see the fruits of our faith in action.