Weekly Encouragement: The Greatest Gift We Can Give To GOD Is Faith.

 

Member Support & Services Form

Beloved Family,

The greatest thing a person can do for God is not to impress Him with achievements, wealth, or status. God is not in need of anything we possess. He is the Creator of all things, the One who spoke the universe into existence. What He desires most from us is faith, a heart that trusts Him, believes in Him, and willingly walks with Him.

The Bible makes this clear 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."

Faith is the beginning of every relationship with God. Before we can truly understand His love, receive His grace, or experience His peace, we must first believe that He is real. Faith is not blind wishful thinking; it is confidence in the One who created us and continues to sustain us every single day.

Every morning we wake up with another breath in our lungs. Our hearts continue beating without us telling them to beat. The sun rises. The earth continues spinning in perfect order. Our minds can think, our bodies can move, and we have the freedom to choose our actions. None of these gifts originated from ourselves. They were given to us by God.

Many people enjoy these blessings every day without stopping to ask where they came from. They appreciate life but ignore the Giver of life. Yet every good gift points back to its Source.

James reminds us in James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights."

Everything we treasure, life, love, hope, purpose, family, beauty, truth, and the ability to choose, is ultimately a gift from God.

The Illusion of Self Creation In today's world, people often celebrate independence. We hear statements like, "I made myself," "I don't need anyone," or "I'm self-made."

While hard work certainly matters, no one truly creates themselves and none of us chose the day we were born.

None of us designed our own DNA. None of us created the universe before entering it. None of us decided which family, nation, or generation we would be born into. Before we accomplished anything, we first had to receive life itself.

Every person enters this world through parents. Whether our family life was joyful or painful, every human being has a biological beginning. Nobody simply appeared from nowhere. That simple truth raises a deeper question: If every child has parents, then where did humanity itself come from?

The Bible answers this by teaching that God is our ultimate Creator. Genesis 1:27 "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."

Our earthly parents gave us physical birth, but our Creator gave humanity life itself.

When someone claims they created themselves, they overlook the countless gifts they received before they ever made a single decision.

Our intelligence is given. Our abilities are given. Our opportunities are given. Life itself is given. Recognizing this doesn't diminish human achievement; it puts it into perspective. We are stewards of gifts, not inventors of existence.

Free Will: A Gift That Reveals God's Love. One of the greatest gifts God has given humanity is free will. God did not create robots programmed only to obey Him. He created people capable of genuine love, meaningful choices, and authentic relationships.

Love cannot exist where there is no freedom. Every day we make decisions. We choose kindness or cruelty. Truth or deception. Forgiveness or bitterness. Faith or unbelief. Those choices matter because God respects the freedom He has given us. From the very beginning, Scripture presents humanity with the ability to choose. Deuteronomy 30:19 "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life."

God invites rather than forces. He calls rather than compels. He loves rather than manipulates. Even the decision to believe in Him is one He allows us to make freely. What Happens When We Deny Our Creator?

Some people sincerely believe there is no God. Others reject Him because of suffering, disappointment, or unanswered questions. Still others simply never think deeply about life's biggest questions.

The Christian perspective is not that unbelievers have no value or dignity. Every person bears God's image and deserves love and respect. Christians are called to speak the truth with humility and compassion, not condemnation.

From a biblical viewpoint, however, denying God means disconnecting ourselves from the very foundation of our existence. If God truly is our Creator, then ignoring Him is like forgetting the source of our own life.

Imagine a tree insisting it has no roots. A river claiming it has no spring. A painting denying there was ever a painter.

The existence of the creation points beyond itself. Likewise, humanity points beyond itself.

When people reject God, they often continue searching for meaning elsewhere, in success, relationships, pleasure, money, power, or recognition. These things can be good gifts, but none were designed to carry the full weight of our identity.

As Saint Augustine famously wrote, "Our hearts are restless until they rest in You." That longing for meaning, purpose, and lasting peace is something many people experience, regardless of their beliefs. We Were Made for More Than This Life

Every human being eventually asks questions like: Why am I here? What is my purpose? What happens after death?

Why does anything exist at all? These questions point toward something deeper than survival.

Ecclesiastes says in Ecclesiastes 3:11"He has also set eternity in the human heart."

Deep inside us is an awareness that life is about more than eating, working, sleeping, and eventually dying.

We long for eternity because we were created with eternity in mind. Every accomplishment eventually fades. Every possession eventually wears out. Even our strongest bodies grow old. Yet our desire for lasting meaning remains.

That longing is one reason many believers see faith not as an escape from reality but as an answer to the deepest questions reality presents. Home Is More Than a Place After a long day's work, most people look forward to going home.

Home is where we rest. Where we belong. Where we feel safe. Where we are welcomed. No matter how exhausting the day has been, returning home brings peace. This simple picture helps us understand something profound about our relationship with God.

Just as we leave home to fulfill our responsibilities before returning to rest, our earthly life can be understood as a journey that ultimately points back to our Creator. The Bible often describes believers as travelers and pilgrims. This world is important, but it is not the final destination. Jesus comforted His followers with these words in , John 14:2 "In my Father's house are many rooms... I am going there to prepare a place for you."

God does not merely offer a better philosophy. He offers a home. Not simply a physical location, but perfect fellowship with Him. A place where sorrow ends. Where death is defeated. Where peace is complete. Returning to the One Who Made Us Every beginning points toward an ending.

Every journey has a destination. We entered this world through birth. One day we will leave it through death. For believers, death is not the end of existence but the doorway into eternity with God. The Apostle Paul expressed this confidence when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:8 "To be away from the body is to be at home with the Lord."

This hope changes everything. It gives courage during suffering. Strength during trials. Comfort during grief. Confidence in uncertainty. Because if our final destination is with God, then even life's hardest seasons are not the end of the story. Hope Begins with God Hope is one of humanity's greatest needs.

People place hope in careers. Governments. Technology. Relationships. Health. Money. But every earthly hope has limits. Only God offers a hope that extends beyond death. Peter describes believers as having "a living hope." That hope is alive because Christ is alive. It is not based on changing circumstances but on God's unchanging promises.

Without hope, people often feel lost. With hope, even suffering can be endured because it has purpose. Christian hope is not pretending life is easy. It is trusting that God remains faithful even when life is difficult. Faith Is an Invitation, Not a Force God does not demand belief through intimidation. He invites us into relationship. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus continually invited people to follow Him. Some accepted. Others walked away. He never removed their freedom to choose. That same invitation remains today. God desires willing hearts. Faith cannot be manufactured by pressure. It grows through seeking, asking, listening, praying, and honestly pursuing the truth. Jesus said in Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." God welcomes sincere seekers.

Living with Gratitude When we recognize God as our Creator, gratitude naturally follows. Instead of believing everything belongs to us, we understand that life itself is a gift.

Every breath becomes a reminder that we are sustained by God's grace. The Journey Back Home Life often feels like a long journey. Some days are filled with joy. Others bring heartbreak. Sometimes we succeed. Sometimes we fail. But throughout it all, God continues calling people to Himself.

Like a loving Father waiting for His children, He invites us home. Not because we earned it. Not because we are perfect.

But because of His love and mercy. The Christian message is ultimately about reconciliation, God making a way for humanity to return to Him through Jesus Christ. Faith is not merely believing certain facts. It is trusting the One who made us. Walking with Him. Receiving His grace. Living according to His truth. And looking forward to the day when faith becomes sight.

Beloved, Every human life has a beginning, a purpose, and an eternal significance. We did not create ourselves. We received life as a gift. Our earthly parents brought us into the world, but God is the Author of life itself. He created us with free will, not so we could wander without meaning, but so we could freely choose to know and love Him.

The longing for purpose, peace, and belonging is not accidental. It reflects the deeper reality that we were created for relationship with our Creator. Just as we leave our homes each day and eventually return to rest, the Christian hope is that our lives are part of a greater journey, one that begins with God and finds its fulfillment in Him.

Faith, then, is more than acknowledging God's existence. It is trusting His character, receiving His love, and living with the confidence that our lives have meaning because they come from Him. In the end, the deepest rest the human heart seeks is found not in possessions, success, or earthly accomplishments, but in the presence of the One who gave us life.

As Jesus said in , Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

May we seek Him with sincere hearts, live with gratitude for the life He has given us, and remember that our truest home is found in the God who created us, loves us, and calls us to Himself.

Priest of Light

Your Daily Growth in Christ

Join Fasting and Prayer program

Join Us