Belief? Faith? Trust? Which is Gaby exemplifying to us? Jesus Himself upheld the simple, straightforward, confident faith of a child, and encouraged adults to do likewise. Parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him. Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” On another occasion Jesus spoke to His Father and commended those with childlike understanding, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.” But is Gaby exemplifying belief, faith, or trust?
As Christ-followers, we do use the terms interchangeably. And a biblical word study allows for the interchange of the three words as well. Just before Hebrews 11 and within Hebrews 11, there is an interplay of the three words. Do not throw away this confident trust ... My righteous ones will live by faith ... Faith is confidence ... By faith we understand .... By faith Abel gave evidence ... It is impossible to please God without faith ... By faith Noah obeyed ... Faith, believing what God had promised. We do recognize that a belief that simply acknowledges the truth of a reality doesn’t always lead to an active biblical faith and trust, and actually, such a belief falls short of the fullness of biblical belief. Gaby is acknowledging truth, but she is also owning that truth on a very personal level for herself, even as a young child. Her words and her actions reveal a faith that wants still more, a faith that is active, a faith that responds, a faith that demonstrates dependence on God. Those are some of the characteristics of biblical belief, faith, and trust – in the fullest sense -- whichever word you choose to use. In a simplicity of definition, I find trust to be an opening of my heart to God with a childlike dependence. Faith, again, simplified, is a choice, a choice that says yes to God and leaves the rest with Him. Belief undergirds it all with an acceptance of truth as God has spoken it. So, yes, Gaby exemplifies all three, but then, it seems Jesus knew and understood that long before we did.
– Bev
(Related Bible reading: Luke 18:15-17; Luke 10:21; Hebrews 10:35-11:13)
