"The Faith Is Not In Everyone"

"....For the faith is not in everyone.  But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen and guard you from the evil one." (2 Thess. 3:2b, 3--HCSB)

I really don't know what to do with our text, but the contrast here is a Biblical "headline."

The Calvinists would not agree, but I believe, "....the faith...," can be, "....in everyone", that is, if everyone would so choose, "....the faith...."  Now twice in the New Testament the phrase, "the faith of Jesus," is used.  This is indeed, "....the faith...," of which Jesus is, "the author and finisher," faith originating and proceeding from His Word ("Now faith comes by hearing...the Word of Christ") the faith which saves, the faith which, "....will strengthen and guard you from the evil one."

Moreover, our text contains the "amazing grace," that even though, "....the faith is not in everyone"..., the Lord is faithful...."  As Paul wrote to Timothy, "He cannot deny Himself."  You and I, indeed, all of humanity, have gone through life bumping off the "banks of the river."  We've made stupid mistakes, yet the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is found in His Faithfulness even when, "the faith is not in everyone," when it was faith in ourselves rather than faith in Jesus. 

Remember when, "the faith," was not in you?  Who "put" that faith in you and me?  It was no one but the One of Whom it is written, "But the Lord is faithful," Jesus, He Who has been the Faithful One, the One Who continually, faithfully, "strengthen[s] and guard[s us] from the evil one."  This is not an excuse for "lack of faith."  Rather, it is thanksgiving and praise time, for no matter what has happened, is happening, and will happen in our lives, through it all, you and I can rejoice and say/sing, "But the Lord is faithful."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I can say nothing more than Thank You for, "But the Lord is faithful."  Amen.

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VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT OUR MISSION TO GERMANY COMING LATER.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2