Love God Greatly - the Greatest Gift GivenSample

The Result of Faith

Read: Matthew 15:21–28; Luke 8:42–48

SOAP: Matthew 15:28; Luke 8:48

“Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, your faith is great! Let what you want be done for you.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.”

“Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

The more we learn about God and the gifts He has given us, the more it feels like we’re unwrapping a beautiful matryoshka doll. If you have ever played with one, you know these Russian nesting dolls open to reveal another doll, and then another, until the smallest doll is revealed.

We learned about God’s character and goodness and then opened another layer to discover the gift of gratitude, which then revealed the gift of hope, and now the gift of faith. Each discovery teaches us something about God, His Son, and our faith. Today’s reading moves us from “what faith is” to “what faith does.” 

Our faith in Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit gives us the boldness to approach God with the desires of our heart, trusting that His will is the right answer to what we need. The result of that faith is peace. No matter what circumstances we face, no matter how complicated or confusing life feels, we can be at peace when we have faith in God—believing that He is the creator and ruler of all.

Peace isn’t a feeling or an experience that only happens at Christmas with our “Peace on Earth” decorations. Peace is the result of the gift of faith that God has given us, and it’s a gift we can share with others as we tell them why we celebrate Jesus and excitedly await His promised arrival. 

Prayer

God, thank You for so generously giving me every good and perfect gift that I need to grow in my faith and encourage others. The more I learn about You, the more in awe I am of the depth of Your love for me. Allow me to share the reason for my peace with others this Christmas. Amen.