The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Thursday
November 20, 2008
What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going
to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.
God gave his
approval to people in days of old because of their faith. By faith we understand
that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did
not come from anything that can be seen.
It was by faith that Abel brought a
more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. God accepted Abel's offering to
show that he was a righteous man. And although Abel is long dead, he still
speaks to us because of his faith.
It was by faith that Enoch was taken up
to heaven without dying – "suddenly he disappeared because God took him." But
before he was taken up, he was approved as pleasing to God. So, you see, it is
impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must
believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Hebrews 11:1-6
If we are going to be all that God created us to be we must walk by faith. Many times the decisions we make may seem irrational or irresponsible, but when God tells us that we are do to something we must take the step of faith necessary to accomplish His purpose in our lives.
Abel and Enoch knew nothing about Jesus' sacrificial life; yet, they trusted God just because He was God. Enoch walked so closely with God that one day he just crossed on over into glory!
I was talking to someone the other day and they were blown away when I shared with them that a certain person intimated me. They just couldn't imagine me being intimated by anyone. I almost fell on the floor laughing. I am intimated by a lot of people! Well, immediately after that phone call the Lord assured me that as long as I walked in intimidation I wasn't walking in faith. I am to walk in the confident assurance that He called me, He chose me to do what I do. Ouch! Hallelujah!
God also let me see that there are some definite faith busters that prevent us from walking in the confident assurance He has for us. A few of those are anger, gossip, and jealousy. Oh, there are more, but these are the ones He was pointing out in my life. Now, if you had asked me I would have told you that I didn't walk in these things! Well, God let me see that I was blind to these areas in my life and He wanted them gone! He wants me to walk in the confident assurance that what He has called me to do He will bring about and that I was to walk by faith in getting things accomplished in His name! Wow!
What has God told you to do that you haven't done because you are too timid to ask for help? Well, just go ahead and repent and get on with it! He is there! If He walked with Enoch, He is walking with you!
Father, forgive us for failing to trust You. Forgive us for allowing people to intimidate us and prevent us from walking in the way that You want us to walk! Whether that person is a pastor or close friend, let us have enough confidence in You to not put our trust in people, but in the Creator of those people. You are worthy of not only our praise, but our trust as well!
