Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Yesterday I left off with this statement: Developing an ear to hear by faith can only come by the word of God.

As I closed out my posting of that devotional I heard “Why faith?” That question led me to a period of meditation upon which faith took on a much more complex role than mere belief. Faith is defined by many religions as nothing more than belief. Some might even assign action to faith, if you believe you should act upon it.

Here in Ephesians 2:8 I find faith as being a conduit or pipeline for grace to be delivered. Now grace is defined by many as unmerited favor and these favors take on many forms as God gives us what we need to have this abundant life. Yet the conduit for grace is still faith, something more substantial than mere belief.

Romans 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

That conduit of faith exists whether you believe it or not. Faith is not dependent upon belief.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

The turning point in my meditation was in this verse, that faith is pleasing to God. There is an interaction, more than mere communication, more than mere belief, this conduit isn’t one way; it is reciprocal. God receives as well as gives thru faith.

Now what can we ever give God thru faith? Since it is pleasing to God and reciprocal then I would say the answer is love.

Faith is how God receives our love for Him.

Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

When I read this passage my experience tells me this; “Give me your heart and see what I can do with it.” I cannot say everyone feels that way but there is a freedom in letting God and letting God.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Let God have His way with you. That is not what we are taught. We are taught to take charge of our life, to be the masters of our own destiny. How well did that work out? Not many of us are willing to say, “I ruined my life, you take over now.” Even if we say it and want it, we still have no experience in just how to do that. The truth is something simpler than one might think.

Romans 16:25-26 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

The key is obedience of faith. How can you obey if you cannot hear?

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Developing an ear to hear by faith can only come by the word of God. Faith is not independent, it is dependent, dependent upon the Word. You will never hear anything by faith that is not confirmed by the Spirit in His Word.