Stable Faith
One of the great symbols of Christmas is, of course, the stable. Jesus being born in the back stable outside of the hotel. You know, he didn't have a place in the inn, and so he was born in what we see as like an English barn, even though it was probably more like a cave.
And we love to see these pictures of Jesus in the stable. But I love how J. Dean Cameron says that we need a stable faith, not faith in a stable. I like that.
Building Stable Faith
What does it mean to have a stable faith? It means that your faith isn't rocked, it doesn't go up and down, but it stays consistent because you believe so deeply in God and in who he is in Christ.
Now that's not to say that our moods and emotions and feelings don't go up and down. We are human after all. And so you can expect that, but through that we can have a stable faith.
And in order to have stable faith, we need to have some stable habits in our lives. Habits of reading the Bible and praying daily. Habits of calling on God when temptations come our way. Habits of meeting with good Christian friends regularly and praying together and talking through your faith. Habits of going to church rather than doing whatever else comes your way on a Sunday. These are habits that help you to have a stable faith.
Faith Beyond Symbols
You know, if your Christian life is a little bit here, a little bit there, a lot here, then not so much anymore, then it goes up and down with your feelings. But if you have habits in place that you maintain, whatever comes your way, your faith is stable and consistent and solid. And then whatever variations come your way, you can handle them with faith. You can still handle them with your faith intact.
And so when you see the stable this Christmas and all the symbols, the pictures, and maybe the nativity scenes - Jesus in a little manger - remember that it's not about faith in a stable, but it's about a stable faith.
Get close to God this Christmas. Consistently do what he calls you to do, and find that no matter what comes your way, your faith will stand firm.
