Monday 12th June
The World Cup has started. At least it should have – I’m writing these devotionals a few days beforehand. Just for the sake of it, I’ll put my predictions for each day’s games. Today’s are Italy 2,Ghana 0; USA 1, Czech 1; Australia 1, Japan 2.
Have you noticed that in the lead up to, and during, the World Cup Mars Bars have been labelled ‘Believe’? This is a marketing campaign and if you’ve seen the adverts it says that we should believe that England can win the World Cup. The inference is that if enough people believe, it will improve our chances. You see similar thinking if you watch ‘Deal or No Deal’. The contestants there will try and generate positive thinking to influence what’s in their box.
People mistake hope and belief. The difference is like this; I believe England can win the World Cup, but I also believe that Germany and Brazil have that ability. My hope is that England will win it.
I think Christians have a tendency to similarly blur the lines between hope and faith. If there is something we really want, then if we hope for it enough then we will have the faith for it to happen. Faith is not a tool to force God’s hand. It is acting upon what God has said regardless of our feelings or circumstances.
For example, Jesus promised that the Father would ensure we have sufficient food and clothing (Matthew 6: 25-34). Faith, then, is put into action when money is tight but we trust God’s promise rather than (for example) falsely claiming benefits we’re not entitled to | 