Faith - how do we judge it?

Like a lot of things, I think it's easy to misjudge how much faith we have or someone else has. For instance, some things are very noticeable and people probably think that's a good indicator of faith. For example, people who bear their testimonies often in church might have a lot of faith or might bear their testimony a lot in church. Bearing your testimony could be a result of a lot of faith, but it might not. Certainly the Savior mentions a lot of these examples in Matthew 6 - praying on the street corners, letting people know you're fasting, writing a blog that shows you read scriptures (oh wait, he didn't mention that did he? but maybe he could have - I guess my point is, don't think I or anyone who knows a fair amount about the scriptures has more faith than you or is better than you; this isn't a great way to show faith).

So what is a great way to show faith? I think these verses teach us:

3¶Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother ^atrespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, ^bforgive him.

4And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I ^arepent; thou shalt forgive him.

5And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

Some thoughts: I don't think rebuke means yell. Perhaps it means, "let him know". If he trespass 7 times in a day, and says, "I'm sorry", forgive him. Now clearly if someone does something negative to you 7 times in a day, you'd probably not believe them. Doesn't matter - forgive him.

The Apostles understood how difficult this was. So they said, "Increase our faith." Why? Reading "The Peacegiver" is a book that will explain that concept very well, but in a few words, it's the following:

1) Jesus paid the price for sin and all mistakes and has paid for all of them.
2) Therefore, because he has stood in for everyone, it is as if he did the sin or the mistake.
3) Those who suffered as a result of mistakes or sins of someone else are told by Jesus that he requires us to forgive Him (who has taken the place of the sinner or mistake doer).
4) It takes a lot of faith to believe Christ has literally paid the price for others' sins. Forgiving others because you literally believe in the Atonement is true faith in action. Very hard. That's why the Apostles said, "Lord, Increase our Faith." This is one of the tests of life.

(If you're thinking, but what about the person that offends through sin (or mistake or because they had a tough life and were taught bad habits)? What happens to them? Jesus decides that. And I think we should trust his decision. He requires them to believe in his actions as well, change, and follow his example of baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and continuing faithful to the end.)

So, if I can't forgive people and don't love people, I don't have that much faith, even if I can heal others, or prophecy, or dunk :)

Or as Marvin Ashton said, "the best and fastest way to tell how you're coming unto Christ is the way you treat other people."

Have a good night.

LaDon