Find out today why to love God means to walk by faith, not by sight!
In a world where belief is easily compromised for the sake of what is accepted and popular, how can we continue to stand for our faith? How can we better live a life that honors God, even if it means not knowing all the answers to our questions?
What Does it Mean to Walk by Faith Not by Sight?
Faith – a five-letter word that speaks volumes. In fact, our Christian life is impossible without it. It’s amazing how this word can do so much even with just a little act of it. You see, our life as believers is supernatural. Imagine loving someone whom you haven’t seen face to face? That’s extraordinary! But by faith, the impossible becomes possible. Hebrews 11:1 even says that faith is being confident of receiving something you hope for and being sure of what is not evident in one’s eye.
To walk by faith, not by sight is simply saying that you believe in God’s character and His promises even if you haven’t seen Him physically. It means you are confident that He is moving mountains for you even when you can’t see Him working. It means you fear Him even when you don’t feel like it.
Living by faith means trusting Him completely because of what you can see and all the more trusting Him despite what you can’t see. It is choosing to obey Him every day of your life even if you are unsure of the outcome. To walk by faith, not by sight is to love God despite all your unanswered questions and all your what-ifs. Lastly, it is trusting Him with your life until you see Him face to face.
Where in the Bible Does it Say Walk by Faith Not by Sight?
When Paul informs the people about awaiting the new body, he tells them in 2 Corinthians 5:7 that we live by faith and not by sight, so we are away from the Lord as long as we live in the pleasures of our flesh.
What is the Context of 2 Corinthians 5:7?
Who wrote the book?
2 Corinthians is an autobiographical letter written by Paul the Apostle. Paul’s exhortation and love were seen in this intensely personal letter to cater to early Christian’s commitment to the nature of church ministry, the word of God, and their preparation to reject teachings from false prophets.
To whom was it written?
This book was written for the church in Corinth, for their faith was weak- they were struggling with idolatry and immorality. Paul spent enough visits and letters to warn and correct the people who rejected the truth about God’s Word.
What is the setting?
2 Corinthians is a letter for the church in Corinth to address the struggles caused by false prophets. Paul was in Macedonia when he wrote this letter that emphasizes his love and concern for the church.
Why is it Important to Understand What it Means to Walk by Faith Not by Sight?
To guard your heart
God commanded us to guard our hearts through King Solomon in Proverbs 4:23, for everything we do with it dictates the direction of our life. That is why in Jeremiah 17:9, it is said that no one can understand the heart, for it is incurable and, by far, the most deceitful above everything.
When we truly understand that living in faith means learning to discern what is right and wrong in the eyes of God, we can easily see God’s protection in our lives.
To help you focus on eternal things
When we are so used to the kind of life we have here on Earth, we lose sight of what is eternal. You see, when our faith is weak, we are easily swayed by the temporal things that this world offers. And so we are commanded to fix our eyes on what is unseen, for it is eternal, not on what is seen yet temporal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)
To overcome temptations
The enemy puts many traps in our lives just as often he makes us forget that there’s more to life than our worldly pleasures. But when we live by faith, not by sight it will be easier for us to overcome spiritual battles. Why? Because we are fully equipped with the word of God to do so.
To remind you of what matters most
God is both loving and just. From the beginning, we are already on our way to hell. But God loves us so much to do otherwise. So He sent His Son to be the atonement for our sins. And now, God wants us to spend eternity with Him. I know you already know this, but the question is, are you spending your life obeying and trusting Him?
Other Bible Verses That Will Remind You to Walk By Faith Not by Sight
Hebrews 11:6
This verse says that it is impossible to walk with God without faith. One must genuinely believe that He exists and that He will reward those who seek His face diligently.
Proverbs 3:5-6
We are to rely confidently on the Lord, not on our knowledge, for He will make our paths straight when we acknowledge and recognize Him as our God.
Romans 1:17
God’s righteousness is shown in the gospel in and through faith, just like what is written – the righteous shall live by faith.
Matthew 17:20
The parable of the Mustard Seed is an excellent reminder that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. What seems impossible might be so possible with little faith.
James 2:17
It is never enough to say that you have faith; without action, it is useless and dead.
How to Walk by Faith Not by Sight?
Let go of your fears
One truth about the enemy is that when he can’t make you bad, he’ll make you tremble in fear. He’ll lay all your fears and will turn them into worries so you will fail to trust an unknown future to a known God. And sometimes, we feel like we know better than Him. So we try to control our lives with our strength and knowledge instead of humbling ourselves and realizing that He holds our past, present, and future.
Know and understand that everything you’re worried about is already taken care of. Choose faith over fear, for you serve a limitless God.
Delight in prayer
Why do you pray? How do you pray? What does your prayer consist of? Is your prayer life a message of love to God? Or a shopping checklist? These are questions you should ask yourself when you come into the knowledge of talking to God because our attitude towards prayer is critical in our walk with Him.
Prayer should be our way of life – a part of our daily routine, not a duty or something that we would only do out of our dire need for a blessing. It should please us, not a burden. Are you delightfully praying to God?
Honor the Bible
Sometimes we pick the Bible for our wrong personal reasons. We have a way of twisting what is written there to justify our actions. Some Christians even have a toxic mindset of “as long as I’m not hurting anyone and I’m happy, I’m good,” but are you? Remember, we are called not to be happy and just good. We are called to glorify God. A true follower of Christ knows that we cannot pick out or choose what is comfortable to follow. No exemptions. No excuses. Don’t change the laws of the Bible just because you cannot comply.
Respect everything that is written in the Bible, not what you think is only convenient for you. Honor the Word of God. Spend time reading His Word and learn to develop the discipline of it.
Be dependent on God
To be dependent on God means to surrender your life to Him completely. We think that when we already know who God is, the journey stops there. But no, our submission to Him is not a one-time thing. It is a daily choice. He wants the kind of dependence when you can’t seem to function or start your day without consulting Him first before doing anything. He wants your reliance from the moment you wake up to the moment you close your eyes.
For people who do not know God, surrender might be an act of weakness. But you have to understand that there is so much beauty, strength, and power in surrender. It is the most extraordinary life you can live.
Always be grateful
It’s easy to thank the Lord when everything is going our way, but not so much when everything is a mess. Agree? But in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are reminded to be grateful in every circumstance because it is God’s will in Christ for us. Paul didn’t say in “some” circumstances, but he says that in “all” circumstances – whether we are struggling or having the best time of our lives.
May you never run out of things to be thankful for. But if there comes a time that you ran out of one, learn to change your perspective. His presence is always so evident.
Witness faithfully
We were not saved to sit pretty and wait for His coming. The gospel has been shared with us to serve and spread His goodness. We have a calling to answer – be an instrument of His grace to those who are also undeserving. When you know the cure for a deadly disease, wouldn’t you want to share it with the sick? Or would you rather share it with those who are already cured?
Share the ultimate cure for a sinful world. Serve others. Lead by example. Show people what it means to be a good follower of Christ. Be a faithful witness.
Love people radically
Do you think you already love people enough? Wait until God asks you to wash the feet of those who threw stones at you, forgive those who hurt you, serve those who betrayed you and pray for those who persecuted you. Now, you tell me, have you loved them enough?
When God created us, He provided us with family and friends to know what it means to love and be loved. The Bible itself tells how much God loves us beyond beyondness, but we are also expected to do the same. To love radically means to love all kinds of people, especially our enemies. It means that we are to love like how Jesus did – sacrificial and unconditional.
Hold on to His promises
While reading this, come to think of it, you are currently living at least one of your prayers from days, months, and years ago. Isn’t that enough reason to trust in God all the more?
His promises are unchangeable, and so is He. Take heart in knowing that you are serving a living and faithful God who loves you far more than you can ever imagine. Meditate on His promises! So when the enemy feeds you with lies, you can overcome it with His Word.
Fix your eyes on Jesus
We are called not to walk by sight because we will stumble and fall if we fix our eyes on imperfect people. When we are too focused on their lapses, we will be disappointed and discouraged. This means that the perspective we have on people will always hinder our growth spiritually. But when we fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), you’ll understand why the fight was so hard. Focus on Him, and you’ll see great things from His perspective.
Even in the Bible, when people placed their faith in God, they gained victory over their lives and their eternal life. Noah, Abraham, David, John, Mary, Paul, and the list goes on. They didn’t focus on the people around them. They just did what they had to do – they fixed their eyes on Jesus and look what they have done for the Kingdom of God.
In Summary
When you can’t seem to understand the journey, trust the One who knows your heart best. For even in your uncertainties, God is only certain who stuck with you despite you not sticking with Him and for Him.
May you reflect on this today – God can do so much even in your smallest act of faith. But don’t expect Him to move mountains for you if you can’t find it in your heart to trust Him with all your might. I pray that you will face all your unknowns today as you choose to walk by faith, not by sight.