Detecting Unbelief
Unbelief. It's what makes God seem like a taskmaster instead of a father and friend. But we don't get that, because unbelief doesn't announce itself in our hearts as unbelief. It wears all sorts of disguises. I found a "Faith vs. Unbelief" list by John Bunyan, and here it is (tightened up a bit):
1. Faith believes the Word of God; unbelief questions it.
2. Faith sees God's promise to help; unbelief says, "How can that possibly be?"
3. Faith makes you see love in Christ's reproofs; unbelief imagines only wrath.
4. Faith helps the soul to wait; unbelief gives up if made to wait.
5. Faith gives comfort in the midst of fears; unbelief causes fears in the midst of comforts.
6. Faith finds sweetness in God's discipline; unbelief finds no comfort in mercy.
7. Faith makes great burdens light; unbelief makes light burdens heavy.
8. Faith helps us when we are down; unbelief throws us down when we are up.
9. Faith brings us near to God when we are far from him; unbelief puts us far from God when we are near to him.
10. Faith sees friendship with God; unbelief sees a hard taskmaster.
11. Faith puts man under grace; unbelief holds him under wrath.
12. Faith purifies the heart; unbelief keeps the heart polluted
13. Faith rests in Christ's righteousness; unbelief clings to the law.
14. Faith makes all our work acceptable to God; without faith it is impossible to please him (Heb. 11:4).
15. Faith gives peace and comfort; unbelief gives trouble and tossing
16. Faith shows Christ precious; unbelief sees no beauty in him.
17. Faith gives life in Christ's fullness; unbelief causes spiritual starvation
18. Faith gives freedom from the law of sin and death; unbelief shackles us to them.
19. Faith shows us excellence in things unseen; unbelief sees only this world.
20. Faith makes all God's ways pleasant; unbelief makes them heavy and hard.
From Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ (Banner of Truth).
7 comments:
Thank you so much for beginning my day with such thoughts! May God use your work that you do for Him, for His glory. I am really enjoying your books on Trust and Contentment right now! Thank you.
T
I appreciated all of the truths from Bunyan yesterday. When I awoke this morning, this statement (No. 5) came to mind: "Faith gives comfort in the midst of fears; unbelief causes fears in the midst of comforts." (I need to post it on my mental "wall.")
So true... Thanks for reminding us of how subtle and devastating unbelief can be!
Excellent post - much appreciated! Needed the reminder!
Very much appreciate faith and unbelief contrasted like this. A great list to print out as a daily reminder!
Hi - I like this post and was encouraged by it. I did note, however, that in point 14, you cite Hebrews 11:4 instead of 11:6 -- "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (NASB).
Verse 4 talks about Abel's sacrifice :)
I like how this list makes Faith synonymous with Belief. I think there are so many of us who say we are believers but struggle moving into the place of faith.
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