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SCRIPTURE READINGS
LAMENTATIONS 3:22-33
2 CORINTHIANS 8:7-15
MARK 5:21-43

REFLECTION

“Faith and Trust” is the theme for our reflection. Faith is the conviction or believe that there is an existence of certain state of affairs. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) Often, the word or concept of faith and trust have been used interchangeably, however, trust can be defined as faith in action. For the purpose of illustration, faith is having the conviction that you will pass an exams, trust is writing exams or taking action with certainty that you will pass. Faith is the believe in the existence God and trust is the daily actions of experiencing the existence of God. Again, faith is the conviction that God exists but trust is manifested in the prayers we offer to Him because of the faith or conviction we have that He exists. Our faith is seen in the trust we have in God. . In addition, faith is believing and trust is earnestly seeking the Lord as illustrated in Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” We shall reflect on the fact that Faith without trust is empty.

Beloved in the Lord, it is one thing having faith in God and it is another thing walking in faith by trusting that whatever action you are taking to connect with God in prayer will bring you liberation. The woman with the issue of blood for twelve years had faith that Jesus can heal her therefore her trust or faith in action is that “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” ²⁹ Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering… He (Jesus) said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” (Mark 5:28-29,34). Similarly, Jarius, a synagogue leader, also had faith that Jesus can heal his daughter therefore his trust or faith in action was that “when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. ²³ He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”…He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.” (Mark 5:22-23,41-42) Belove in the Lord, it is not enough to merely say you believe or have faith but our actions or conducts must demonstrate our complete trust in the Lord. It is instructive to have faith and also manifest such faith through the act of trusting in the Lord, for we have been assured by Jeremiah in Lamentations 3:22-24 that, “…because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” We must have faith that the Lord is faithful and will never forsake and must always trust Him by waiting for Him for our liberation from calamities, sickness and the storms of life.

In addition, as Christians, there are vital or important qualities we must excel in, in our relationship with God. Faith is part of the essential qualities a Christian must excel in. Paul’s commendation to the believers in Corinth are relevant and worthy of our consideration when he wrote, “…you excel in everything —in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. (2 Corinthians 8:7) The Christian life is holistic therefore we must yearn to please God by practicing the essential or vital qualities of faith (and trust) in God in addition to godly speech, knowledge of His Word, earnest dealings, love and giving. In other words, faith and trust in the God must go hand in hand or co-exit with other important qualities or virtues of the a believer.

In summary, we have learnt that faith or believing in the Lord must coterminous with our trust in the Lord through our actions or posturing, especially in times of adversity. May the Holy Spirit strengthen our faith and grant us the enablement to always demonstrate our trust in the Lord at all times. Amen.