We don’t deserve anything from God, because He is holy, pure and perfect, while we are impure and imperfect sinners.
Given this huge gap between the Almighty and us, it should be impossible for us to get close to God. But since nothing is impossible for God, He created a plan by which any sinner - regardless of how bad he is - can enter His presence, get His full attention, and receive His blessings.
It is only by faith that a person is able to get close to God. Obviously, we are not talking about conventional faith (the one that’s so popular among people today) we are talking about practical faith. With theoretical faith, everyone believes in God.
Some accept Jesus as their personal Saviour, and believe in His Word, His prophets and in His Church. However, when it comes to practising what they preach, they are not willing to obey.
Faith requires obedience, character and action, so it’s difficult for someone to grab hold of God’s promises if they don’t have this kind of faith.
That’s why the majority of Christians believe in a great God but live miserable lives. The problem is that their faith is not accompanied by works.
We Christians must practise our faith every day to reap its benefits and, above all, to obtain the salvation of our souls. If a person doesn’t have faith to achieve small things, how will he achieve the greatest prize of all - the salvation of his soul?
Obeying God’s Word is to act on your faith and vice versa. Faith in action makes a person deserving of God - Like Abraham. He was considered a just man and deserved God’s blessings because of his obedience; that is, because he acted on his faith. It is written: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called (Hebrews 11.8)
The Bible doesn’t specifically say, “Do your part and I will help you.” But this is how it happens in practice. Whoever wants to receive answers from God must first act on his own faith.
The apostle James asks, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?” (James 2.21)
In other words, Abraham materialised his faith through obedience and that was enough for him to be considered just and deserving in the eyes of God.
This kind of action characterises true faith. That’s why the same apostle says that faith without works is dead. Obedience to God’s word makes a person worthy, righteous and holy before Him.
The Bible describes God as rewarding those who seek Him. What better way to seek God than to obey and practise His Word?
Notice that the Bible doesn’t say that God is a donor. He doesn’t donate blessings; He gives them as a reward. There is a big difference! Faithful tithers for instance, deserve God’s financial blessings and riches. They have every right to reap the rewards promised by God.
We don’t deserve anything from God, because He is holy, pure and perfect, while we are impure and imperfect sinners.
