Perfecting an Immature Faith

Perfecting an Immature Faith
…we rejoice… night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith. —1 Thessalonians 3: 9-10
So many people today are lacking in their faith. It is manifested by the way they live. They profess faith, but they live after the flesh. Rather than hating evil, they are actually attracted to it. If they truly believed the Bible they couldn’t do the things they do. If they truly believed the gospel, they wouldn’t settle for a halfhearted commitment to their Savior. But these are they who manifest Jesus only when it is convenient for them, only if it doesn’t interfere with their plans.
**Is there hope for someone with such an incomplete, immature faith? Yes. Bring them to God’s Word.
Complete faith in God’s Word emboldens our witness. It sends fear fleeing. It banishes anxiety. But those whose faith is immature lack both boldness and confidence. They can’t testify of Jesus because they don’t fully trust Him.
Is there hope for someone with an immature faith? And if so, how do you perfect such a faith? It is accomplished by bringing them to a greater understanding and knowledge of God and by teaching God’s Word, which is God’s revelation of Himself. And as you study the Scriptures and read of the accounts of those who have put their faith in God and how God has delivered them, it increases your faith—for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
We all lack faith in certain areas, so our prayer must be, “Lord, increase my faith.” May we spend time in His Word so that He can perfect that which is lacking in us.
Father, increase our faith. Bring us to a full, complete faith in You, in Your Word, and in Your promises. In Jesus’ name, amen.