The Spiritual Gift of Faith

Every Christian has saving faith, and Paul calls salvation "the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). When Paul lists faith as a spiritual gift, he seems to mean something more particular, since only some receive it. Most Bible teachers understand it as trust in God strong enough to steady others.

When the budget falls short or the diagnosis is bad, someone with this gift is often the one who says, let's pray and keep going. They see the trouble clearly and are still sure God is good and able. Even so, Paul says someone with faith to move mountains is nothing without love (1 Corinthians 13:2).

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego told the king God was able to rescue them from the furnace. "But even if He does not," they said, they would not worship his golden statue (Daniel 3:17-18).

When the people on Paul's storm-battered ship had "abandoned all hope of being saved" (Acts 27:20), Paul told them God had promised to spare their lives. Luke writes, "They were all encouraged and took some food themselves" (Acts 27:36).

• You keep praying for a friend's prodigal son long after others have stopped asking.
• When your church faces a hard decision, you're ready to step out once God's leading seems clear.
• Bad news shakes you, and you still find yourself saying God is good.
• Frightened people seek you out, and your trust steadies them.

• Presumption. Faith trusts what God has said, without demanding that He do what we've decided.
• Impatience with honest doubters. Jude says, "have mercy on those who doubt" (Jude 22).
• Treating careful planning as a lack of faith.
• Thinking answered prayer proves you're more spiritual than others.

• Join a prayer group that meets when your church faces something hard.
• Keep a record of how God has answered prayer, including the answers you didn't expect.
• Sit with someone who's afraid and pray with them right then.
• Encourage your church's leaders when a step of obedience feels risky, and ask how you can help.