In the race of faith, winning takes grace (God’s) and on the human side, it takes grit (it’s called perseverance). Never leave home without it.

Faith is confessed in our words, and it is confirmed in our walk. Otherwise, it is just so much empty talk.

Believing in Christ as the Savior of our souls does not ensure we will not face doubts about His trustworthiness during times of difficulty. In the cold isolation of prison at the end of his ministry, John the Baptist asked if the Christ he had heralded was in fact the Christ he could still trust. Jesus assured him that He was, and His answer to us is the same. When you are faced with what you don’t know, go back to what you do know. e Christ of the Bible is the Christ who is, who was, and who always will be trustworthy no matter what.

If genuine faith exists in the heart, it has the mettle to show up with boots on the ground. Faith follows. Any Sunday 'faith' that does not show up for duty on Monday is stillborn (James 2:26). Real faith is not fully expressed in pious sentiments and songs of praise, but is best demonstrated when it comes armed with grit and guts to follow Christ in the streets. Though it may on occasion be shaken, it will not be long suppressed.

Life confronts us regularly with the choices of living by fear or by faith. Fear depends upon our own wisdom and resources for the answer to our problems; faith looks to God’s Word and His resources for the answers. The next time you confront a crisis, ask yourself, how should faith respond to this situation? Be smart and go that way.

Faith is not living optimistically or hopefully, or maintaining a positive attitude. Pure and simple, Christian faith is trust in God as He is revealed in the Bible. Biblical faith includes confidence in His power, promises, precepts, principles, purposes and plan of salvation. Next time you hear someone in the public square prattle about "faith-based" organizations, know that they are clueless. Just because an entity is a religious organization by no means signifies that they are "faith-based" in the biblical sense.

In our walk with Christ, always bear in mind that our spiritual race is not a comfy jog to the finish line, but a (divinely) intentional marathon that challenges our faith, involves times of severe testing and requires gut-it-out (by grace) perseverance in pursuit of God’s promises. Wherein lies the difference between disciples and dilettantes; authentic Christian people and mere church people; players and posers; serious walkers and empty talkers.

Can anyone find true joy in this life? As the famed song “Man of Constant Sorrow” begins, “I am a man of constant sorrow. I’ve seen trouble all my days.” Our lives begin in labor pains and end in suffering, and this world with its fleeting pleasures can never bring lasting joy. But that isn’t the intention of our earthly life. e believer’s joy will assuredly come when in glory we live eternally with the Triune God and all the saints. at will be joy.

Most people who refuse Christ think of themselves as inherently good people who need no salvation; those who receive Him, however, see themselves as innately sinful persons who desperately need His saving grace. Self-righteousness will condemn the former; self-contempt will save the latter.

'In religion what error, but some sober brow will bless it and approve it with a text.’ [Lange’s Commentary on Malachi, Vol. 7, page 12, 1st column] A good word of warning to the unwary. Beware!