Strong Faith
Toni Smothers
Since we are called by God, the faith entrusted to us is a precious gift that we must guard and cherish. This calling is a higher honor than any distinction arising from birth or family. We are children of the highest God and beacons illuminating the change Christ has made in our lives. We are still human and imperfect, but through life's trials we progress into imitators of our Lord, Jesus. The change is incremental - we still stumble, but God's limitless grace restores us repeatedly until we are permanently resurrected into heaven. Until then, we cling to Jesus and pray in the Holy Spirit.
God is tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. When we take the wrong way, He will convict us and steer us back to Him. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. (Eph 6:12) We can keep our faith strong by relying on the Bible and staying at the center of God's love, keeping our spirits open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our LORD - This is the real, unending life.