Mar 14 - "You Gotta Have Faith"

Romans 3:19-31
"For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law."
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One of the things I have come to love about the liturgy, sacraments and overall belief system of the Anglican Church is the way it brings together what I consider to be the best elements of the Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and even Jewish traditions. Although we recognize the Catholic focus on the importance of doing good works, it is balanced with the the Protestant elements of faith being the way to salvation. The bread and wine of the Eucharist is the embodiment and celebration of Christ's sacrifce, but we also value the simple, yet traditional importance of the Passover Seder.

Sometimes, all of the things which come from these traditions as they relate to what we are "supposed" to do as Christians can seem overwhelming. Pray, serve, tithe, repent, attend church...it's alot to think about! Many of these things come from thousands of years of tradition or from laws set in ancient times. But when we focus on the laws themselves, we can lose site of what they were meant to accomplish; simple acts that give us tools to build us up in our faith.

Faith is a hard thing, at times. When the world seems to be set on breaking you down, it seems like it takes every effort just to keep your faith strong. Even Peter, at one point said to Jesus, "Lord, I believe! Help me in my unbelief!"

God only asks one thing of us; have faith in Him. Believe that through Him, all things are possible. This represents a huge burden and a huge release; the burden of letting go and letting God take control...but also the release of knowing it is in His hands, and his plan is perfect.

So, today, if you have something that seems insurmountable, just have faith. Let go, recognizing that the traditions and laws of our history can be a guide for our lives, but faith is what gets us from good to great.