Authentic Faith

“I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Tim 1:5 (NIV)

What kind of faith has been handed down to you? Maybe you had a godly upbringing where Christ was honored in your home and where the Christian faith was modeled consistently. Perhaps the environment in which you grew up was not characterized by Christian values. When you look into the rear view mirror of your life you may see a perpetual flow of spiritual markers or you may be stunned by the absence of authentic faith.

Paul recognized the sincere faith that was modeled before Timothy by his grandmother and his mother. Timothy had the privilege of being taught the Scriptures from infancy (2 Tim. 3:15). Though his daddy was not a follower of Jesus Christ, Timothy observed the authentic faith exemplified by his grandmother and his mother.

Regardless of your upbringing, the wonderful news is that you can become the conduit through which authentic faith is demonstrated before a watching world. God can use you to model Christ in your conversation and your conduct. You can grow in your faith and allow your sincere, un-hypocritical faith to impact others.

Is your faith the real deal? Have you experienced saving faith in Jesus Christ and given evidence to that faith through practical faith and obedience to God’s Word? Genuine faith will draw others to Christ. Repent of those things that neutralize your faith. Identify those attitudes and actions that prevent your faith from being authentic and sincere.

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell