Tag: Faith
It’s By Faith!
Scripture reading for December 15th: Hebrews 11-13
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Hebrews 11:1-3
One of the foundational aspects of our faith is trusting God as creator of all things. God alone has the wisdom and power to create the universe or cosmos out of nothing with his simple command! This particular aspect of faith is attacked in our land today by those who put their faith in the theory of evolution. Evolution is a type of religious system that puts time and chance as key ingredients to finding the basis of beginning in all things. A creator is ruled out and intelligent design is believed to be the simple product of chance or random happenings over millions or billions of years.
We who trust God and His word know by His revelation how creation began. God simply spoke a command and it happened. Faith trusts what we cannot see but what God has said. Faith’s object is always God or His word. God does not lie. He is absolute truth and His word is also truth! The Bible records a number of human beings who trusted God’s word and were commended by Him. There is a portion of that list in the rest of Hebrews 11! I want to focus on just one of these ancients, Enoch, who was the seventh generation from Adam through Seth.
“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:5-6)
Enoch was known as a man who walked with God. He was a prophet who warned of the coming of the Lord with His holy angels in judgment. His only recorded message is found in Jude 14-15. Enoch began to walk with God after the birth of his son, Methuselah. (Genesis 5:21-24) The name “Methuselah” has a meaning of judgment coming when he dies. The flood came in the year Methuselah died and he lived longer than any other man recorded in Scripture. Enoch so walked with God, that he was snatched up to heaven without death and became a type of faith-walker that would inspire others throughout the ages!
There is no other means of pleasing God! Jesus is coming again. Will you walk with God today as if that were true and warn others about this coming event? Your reward will be better than Methuselah’s! We have a better resurrection in Jesus Christ! (Hebrews 11:39-40)
Mary, the Mother of Jesus!
Scripture reading for October 21st: Luke 1-2
Godly mothers are a gift from the Lord to their children and to the world. I have a godly mother and am so thankful and blessed! My mother has a close walk with the Lord. She was saved when she was young and sought to live out that faith every day. She was faithful to read her Bible and teach her children. She was the Sunday School superintendent in our church as I grew up. Now 86 years young, she still joyfully serves her family and others by cooking and encouraging. She faithfully calls each of her many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren on their birthdays and sings to them! What a blessing now and to future generations!
In our reading today, Luke tells the story of two godly women who are key players in God’s work of salvation. Elizabeth is older and beyond the time of having children when God breaks into her life with a word from an Angel. This angel came to Zechariah, her husband, as he was offering incense before the Lord. He was told that his wife would have a son and his name was to be “John”. (A great name!) This son would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah. He would turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and prepare the people for the Lord. (Luke 1:13-17) As the angel predicted, Elizabeth became pregnant and remained in seclusion for five months. Her husband was unable to speak because he had doubted the angel’s prediction.
The second mother-to-be was Mary. She was a virgin, engaged to be married. Gabriel, an angel sent to her by God, announced her favor with God and told her that she would bear a child who would be called the “Son of the Most High.” Mary humbly asked how this could be since she was a virgin. The angel told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and she would conceive the child who would be the “Son of God”. Mary’s response was a picture of faith for all of us. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38)
This new mother had the joy of carrying Jesus Christ from conception to birth and then raising Him in her home. I can imagine her joy and excitement, mixed with holy fear at all that had transpired. These women had the privilege of working with God to bring about His plan of salvation. Their faith and obedience was a blessing to their children and families, I am sure. But now that faith has impacted each of us and countless millions around the world! If we could get a grasp of the significance of our faith, it would motivate us to serve with joy in the small things the Lord asks of us. Let’s say with Mary, the mother of Jesus, “I am the Lord’s servant.”
Blessings of godly character!
Scripture reading for September 1st: Daniel 1-3
Have you ever moved into a strange neighborhood and different culture where you didn’t even speak the language of the people around you? Have you gone on a mission trip and lived for a short time out of your comfortable culture? These kinds of experiences would help us to understand what Daniel and his three young friends experienced in their 800 mile trip across deserts from Jerusalem to Babylon for a relocation and re-education. They were probably teenagers and were the best and brightest of the Jewish people of God. They were taken into the culture to be re-programed to think “Babylonian” by being placed in the prestigious “University of Babylon” and given a rich diet from the king of Babylon’s personal chef. (Daniel 1:1-6)
These young men had had good training in their home and church community. As young men, they would have memorized the Pentateuch (Books of Moses) by the time they were thirteen. They would have read the prophets and would have begun an apprenticeship for a trade at that time. Their character was shaped by the Law of God in the ten commandments and through Moses’ writings. They also had dietary laws that were given to keep them healthy and set them apart from the nations so that they might be a testimony to the nations. As they were taken into captivity and placed in a foreign culture, this godly character helped them to walk with integrity and reap God’s blessing and favor.
We see Daniel resolving not to defile himself with the food that was not allowed by God’s law. He appealed to the one in authority over him to have a different diet. Notice that he didn’t demand his rights! (Daniel 1:6-14) Daniel listened and was understanding and agreeable and respectful to the one in authority. These wise ways came from godly character through the Word of God. The result was God’s blessing and favor. (Psalm 5:11-12) They looked better with the diet of vegetables and water than the rest who had the rich food and wine! (Daniel 1:15-16)
Honoring God brought these men lots of additional blessings. God gave them wisdom and understanding in all kinds of literature and learning in this wicked university. They excelled above all others and no equals were found! They were “10 times better” than all the others in the kingdom. (Daniel 1:18-20)
It pays to live a godly life and to purpose to honor God and not defile yourself with things God forbids! Godly character brings wisdom to live wisely in a wicked culture. It gives us guidance so we might enjoy God’s favor and blessing. We see that those who enjoyed the temporary pleasures of the rich food and wine did not profit as did the obedient Jews who ate according to God’s instructions by faith in His Word. Take time today and allow God to show you how to live separated lives in this culture. What things should you purpose not to defile yourselves with? What should you be “eating”? Remember the blessings of godly character and living by faith!
The Kinsman-Redeemer!
Scripture reading for March 16: Ruth 1-4
The story of Ruth is set in the time of Judges between 40-100 years before the time of David (1000 BC). This simple story unfolds as a famine forces an Israelite family to leave Israel for Moab. Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, stay in Moab. Nothing good appears to happen to them there. The husband dies. Both sons marry Moabite girls and then they die as well. Naomi is left bitter and ready to return to her land and people. The daughters-in-law are left with a choice to make.
Naomi tells her daughters-in-law to go on back to their own people. She is too old to have more sons for them to marry. Orpah goes on back. Ruth, the other daughter-in-law, clings to her mother-in-law and makes a beautiful confession of devotion and faith. (Ruth 1:16-17) Ruth is ready to follow Naomi and Naomi’s God until death! What conviction and faith are exhibited by this descendant of Lot!
Choices have consequences. In choosing to go to the land of Israel, Ruth would have been an alien and would not have had an inheritance or a people to take her in. She would have had to rely on God’s grace and try to help her older mother-in-law to live. There was no welfare or jobless benefits. Those that did not work, did not eat. Ruth began to glean fields. The law in Israel left the corners of the fields and the grain that was dropped for the orphan and widow. (Deuteronomy 24:19) She would work as she could and get food for her family. God’s divine providence placed Ruth in the field of Boaz, a close relative of Naomi’s. Boaz was also a descendant of Rahab, the harlot that hid the spies!
Because of her hard work and humble spirit and her choice to stay with Naomi, Ruth’s good reputation was spread around. Boaz heard about her and showered her with favor. (Ruth 2:11-12) In Israel, the closest relative to a widow had the right to buy the widow’s property and also to take the widow and continue the family line. Boaz was in that line. He was a possible “kinsman redeemer”. Boaz responded to Ruth’s humble appeal, purchased the field, and took her as his wife! Both Boaz and Ruth are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ! (Matthew 1:5-6)
Jesus Christ is our “kinsman-redeemer”. He is a “close relative” who has bought us back from slavery to sin. When we humbly appeal to Him in faith, He will surely make the transaction for us as well! Ruth is a type of Gentile bride for Jesus Christ. When we closely read this beautiful story, we get a glimpse into the heart of God and Jesus Christ! Thank the Lord for being our “Kinsman-Redeemer”!
“Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer.” (Ruth 3:9)