This is the victory that has
overcome the world—our faith.
—1 John 5:4
Jesus didn’t praise people for their educational achievement, their stage skills, their musical mastery, their athletic ability, or their business brilliance.
But he did praise people for their faith. “I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith,” he said of a Gentile centurion (Mt 8:10). “Woman, you have great faith!” he said to a Canaanite woman (Mt 15:28). “Your faith has saved you; go in peace,” he said to a woman whose sins were well known (Lk 7:50).
When his disciples’ faith faltered, he was disappointed. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt” (Mt 14:31). Even so, credit them with a desire to grow: “Lord, increase our faith,” they prayed.
That’s a prayer we would do well to repeat, for “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb 11:6).
Develop faith worthy of his praise.