KC Tsai—Toronto, Canada

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Eph 4:4–6)

A baptism administered in the name of the Lord Jesus is not the same as one conducted in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. There is no name in the latter. These two modes of baptism cannot be from the same faith (one faith, one baptism) and hence not of the same body of Christ (one body), the church of salvation.

Our salvation depends on choosing the correct faith to follow. Therefore, we must humbly be taught by the Bible and rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance to look into the differences between faiths and make the right decision.

Draw Closer to God

The purpose of man's life is to seek God (Acts 17:27). Faith in Him is the most important thing. Without faith, it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him (Heb 11:6).

We know we should draw near to God, but things around us drag us far from Him. Our faith goes up and down. How to increase in faith daily and always trust in God is a lifelong learning process. What prevents us from maintaining a good level of faith in Him?

What Causes Us to Lose Strength?

From the Bible, we find even great prophets faced times of distress where they wanted to give up. Even Moses and Elijah, at the lowest points in their ministries, pleaded for their lives to be taken.

For Moses, this happened when God's people cried out for meat in the wilderness. The people craved for more than manna, the bread from heaven, and cried at the doors of their tents. The Lord's anger was greatly aroused, and Moses' faith was immensely challenged. He felt powerless to move forward, so he pleaded with God to take his life (Num 11:15). He said: "I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me" (Num 11:14). He thought he was doing everything alone!

But from the beginning, when God commissioned him, God told Moses, "I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain" (Ex 3:12). God had not, and would not, leave His servant alone.

God gave him a sign (evidence), but he would only see it through faith―he had to first go to Egypt, administer the ten plagues by God’s instruction, cross the Red Sea, and then walk nearly three months into the Wilderness of Sinai before he could witness this sign. He had to walk by faith, not by sight.

When Moses felt powerless, it was because he had insufficient faith in God's might. However, God reminded him, "Has the LORD's arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not" (Num 11:23). God caused quail to flutter near the camp of His people, delivering what they craved. God also sent seventy elders to assist Moses, thus reviving his faith.

The Importance of Self-Examination

It is essential to examine our faith periodically. Do you feel as though you are serving all by yourself? Are there certain things that you think are impossible for God to accomplish? We must walk by faith and draw close to God for strength.

Issue 93, Our Faith, is the first of three Time to Reflect issues, which will encourage us to  examine our spiritual life on a deeper level. The articles in this issue look at how to strengthen and renew our relationship with God, and how faith affects every aspect of our existence. May we be spiritually enlightened through these articles and the Holy Spirit’s guidance.