Virtue: Lively Faith
"You were dead in your transgressions and sins...
But God who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us,
even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ...
For we are his handiwork,
created in Christ Jesus for the good words that God has prepared in advance,
that we should live in them."
(Ephesians 2:1, 4-5,10)
Winter...cold, dead, brown.
Spring... warm, alive, green.
For those who live in states that experience snow fall and harshly frigid temperatures for months, there is nothing like Springtime. Even for me, a Minnesota girl at heart, who enjoys snowfall and the activities unique to winter, there is still a certain hope that comes with Spring. New life begins, flowers bud, grass takes on new shades of green. Each season has its own beauty, and each one can teach us lessons about the spiritual life.
The change of seasons from winter to summer, holds rich symbolic meaning for the Christian life. We were once dead in our sins, lost in the cold darkness of winter. Yet, God who is rich in mercy, brings our souls new life. Through the cross and death of Jesus, we are given the opportunity to live the journey from winter to summer. As spring returns the grass to the greenness of the former summer, when we enter into a relationship with Christ, the rays of His light shine upon our wicked and dead ways to begin restoring us to the creations were were created to be. Though, it will be a lifelong journey out of sin and into the fullness of life, the Christian strives to keep a springlike faith, with the hope of an eternal summer to come. We continually turn away from sin, which brings death, and work to live our faith through virtue, which brings life.
The transformation from winter to spring requires a climate change, rain, and sunlight. Something that is dead cannot come back to life by remaining in the cold or dark. Likewise, our spiritual transformation requires an active change. St. Paul wrote, "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead" (James 2:26). The faith of a Christian must be expressed through the actions of their life. Spring becomes Summer through specific and recognizable changes. Faith that is not put into action remains in the beginning stages of new life, and will quickly wither and die. We are called to holiness. We must pursue a growing faith with courage and zeal.
God wants to water our souls and see our faith come to life. Lively faith gives us breathe, it is part of our every move, every plan, every word, and every thought. It encompasses our entire being. We can recognize people who have lively faith, because their trust, obedience, and love for God are made visible in their daily lives. They follow His plan, live each day for Him, seek His wisdom and guidance in every circumstance, they share His love with everyone they meet, they serve Him by serving others, and they are not afraid to express the reason for their faith. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). Faith must be shared, not through imposition, but by the living action of love in our lives. People should know that we are Christian, weather we have explained our reason for hope or not, they should have a visible witness by the way we live.
We must be people of joy, that simple joy that comes when the cold weather turns warm, for we have been given new life. We are called out of the dead of winter into the new life that Spring offers. Yet, this ongoing transformation, to turn away from sin and live virtue, is not always easy. Sometimes we don't even desire to leave winter. Sometimes we just don't feel like trying. It is then that we must ask the Lord to grant us the desire to desire holiness. If we recognize our lack of determination, He will water that honest seed. To admit that we sometimes desire the sin, more than the life that God offers, is a prayer that He does not spurn but the beginning of a new spring. To have lively faith is a constant battle, be honest and do not be discouraged.
Around March, people begin to wonder if winter will ever end. We must remain people of hope... we must believe that even though we are dead in our sins, the spring is coming, and as we actively pursue faith, we will soon find life.
Today's Challenge:
Consider, when people look at me do they see the hope of spring?
What is one concrete way you can live your faith today?
Write "Lively Faith: actively seeking to grow in faith, faith that is evident and alive" where you can see it each day.
Today's Prayer:
Jesus, forgive me for the times that I haven't been as alive as I should be. Help me to walk away from my sins and claim the new life that you offer. Today, please come and fill me with zeal and joy for the journey. Help me to live my faith in every moment. Heavenly Father, breathe your Holy Spirit into my soul that I might come to true and lasting life. Amen.
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