prescription for faith

Faith isn't a lump-sum payout.  It's meted out to us over time, as when the disciples had to keep coming back to Jesus at the feeding of the 5000, believing that there would once again be more food to serve.

And so the disciples ask Him to "increase our faith" after he told them that they would need to forgive a brother or sister seven times a day (Luke 17:5) or even 77 times (Matthew 18:22).  They recognized that forgiveness, at the heart of life with Him, would require a fresh infusion of faith since it's impossible by human effort.  So did the father of the convulsing boy who asked Jesus to remove his faithlessness when he cried, "I believe, but help me overcome my unbelief" (Mark 9:24).  No doubt you can see yourself in each of these pleas.

Thankfully, there is a remedy for faithlessness, a prescription for increasing one's faith, a way of life that supports our desire for increased faith and decreased unbelief.  Peter writes make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love (2 Peter 1:5-7).  As we ask Jesus for faith or for help with faithlessness, Peter reminds us that faith is not only not a lump-sum game but also not a lump separated from the whole.  It's intended to bear fruit in real life, not only in our belief in God, but in the quality of our living, and particularly our living with others.

Are you in need of a faith boost?  Check over Peter's faith prescription to see if you need a faithful response so that you can receive more.