A new year means a new opportunity to be a better Christian. It is a great time for us to review our walk with God and improve it. If we are going to be better Christians, we must learn to exercise our faith and grow thereby.
Without faith, it is impossible to be saved (Ephesians 2:8), and without faith, it is impossible to please God, let alone to live for Him (Hebrews 11:6). The Bible tells us in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11 that …The just shall live by faith. Hebrews 11:1 explains what faith is: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. According to the dictionary, faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing; it is belief that is not based on proof.
The apostles walked and talked with Jesus, and they saw Him perform miracles. Yet, they asked Him to increase their faith (Luke 17:5). If the apostles needed their faith increased, how much more do we need ours increased?
The Bible tells us how we can increase our faith in Romans 10:17, So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. If we are going to increase our faith, we need to hear the Word of God. In this particular verse, the Bible does not say to pray or to read our Bibles. While those are important to our faith, and we should do both, it clearly says in this scripture that we need to hear. Where do we hear the Word of God? We hear the Bible preached and taught at church, of course!
It is true that we should read the Bible ourselves. However, if we want our faith increased, and to become better Christians, it will take more than just reading the Bible. Romans 10:17 shows us that we need to hear the Bible. Some may think, “Okay. Then, I’ll read the Bible out loud.” The Bible is saying that we all need a preacher. Romans 10:14 says, How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? To become better Christians, and to become who God wants us to be, we need to hear the Word of God preached; we need to be in church.
People have plenty of excuses for why they do not go to church, especially post-Covid. The truth of the matter is that we will never grow or have our faith increased if we neglect church where the Word of God is preached. The best thing we can do for ourselves this year is to leave all of our excuses behind in 2022 and to make a commitment to being faithful to the house of God in 2023. Our spiritual growth depends upon it. Let us all be in church as much as possible to hear the Word of God as often as possible so that we can be even better for Christ in 2023.
by Crystal Collingsworth
