Hebrews 11 Faith
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
Hebrews 11 is a great example of the pillars of our faith. It is filled with the stories of faithful men and women who were faithful to God’s leading, many times not even living to see their works bear fruit (Hebrews 11:13).
We can read these verses and be amazed at the faith of these people and maybe even dream of how we would respond to God in similar situations. However, God has called us today to have faith just as those in Hebrews 11. Their faith wasn’t limited to one particular instance or event, but it was woven through everything they did. For “without faith it is impossible to please” God.
Everything we do in life should be directly linked to our faith in the Faithful One. James even wrote of this as it pertained to prayer. He said that if we don’t pray with the faith that God will answer our prayers then we are unstable in all of our ways (James 1:6-8).
Do you go to church just because it is what Christians do?
Or, do you go to church expecting in faith that God will move in a mighty way?
Our Christian disciplines can easily become routine and no longer be a part of our faith in God as they once were. Don’t let reading your Bible, praying, going to church be another thing to check off your list of Christian things to do. Do them with faith, knowing that a loving and powerful God will move in and through you as you do these.
What areas of your life do you need to start doing in faith?
When I read this I was amazed by so many different examples in Hebrews 11, by faith, by faith, by faith, by faith. May I live each day by faith, even if to some it’s crazy faith, by faith, I want to live my life by faith and watch what God will do, by faith. So simple and yet so powerful.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Hebrews 11
A Chuckle in the Darkness
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
In a Washington Post article titled “Tech Titans’ Latest Project: Defy Death,” Ariana Cha wrote about the efforts of Peter Thiele and other tech moguls to extend human life indefinitely. They’re prepared to spend billions on the project.
They are a little late. Death has already been defeated! Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:25–26). Jesus assures us that those who put their trust in Him will never, ever, under any circumstances whatever, die.
To be clear, our bodies will die—and there is nothing anyone can do to change that. But the thinking, reasoning, remembering, loving, adventuring part of us that we call “me, myself, and I” will never, ever die.
And here’s the best part: It’s a gift! All you have to do is receive the salvation Jesus offers. C. S. Lewis, musing on this notion, describes it as something like “a chuckle in the darkness”—the sense that something that simple is the answer.
Some say, “It’s too simple.” Well, I say, if God loved you even before you were born and wants you to live with Him forever, why would He make it hard?
Dear Jesus, I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I want to accept You as my Lord and Savior and follow You. Please forgive my sins and help me, from this moment on, to live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen!!
When I read this I felt there was so much power and truth behind it and it needs to be shared over and over and over and over until it reaches the ones who need to receive this gift. My prayer today is that someone reads this and finds the gift of salvation. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth (Luke 15:10). What a mighty God we serve.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is John 11:17-27
No Looking Back
And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:61-62)
I recently read, One of the greatest challenges for every Christian is to follow Jesus, and to pursue His purpose for our lives without looking back. Imagine trying to drive a car on the highway while looking in only the rearview mirror; you’d be challenged to stay in your lane and avoid a collision. Jesus’ illustration of plowing a field would have made perfect sense to his listeners living in an agricultural context. If a farmer did not focus on what is ahead but was distracted by what was behind or on the periphery, it would be impossible to plow in a straight line. The ox and plow would certainly veer off course.
Both positive and negative aspects of our lives have the potential to become distractions:
Past failures
Internal insecurities
External circumstances
Comfort & security
Relationships
It’s interesting that the man who wants to follow Jesus is distracted by something that we would consider a positive: his home and family. Jesus is letting us know that even something that’s a huge blessing in our lives can become a distraction if it becomes more important than pursuing Jesus and His purpose. As we continue to seek Jesus, we must constantly be aware of the potential distractions in our rear view mirror of life. There can often be a tendency to look back and remember the good, instead of the great in front of you with Jesus.
How can you look ahead and refocus on Jesus and His purpose for you?
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Philippians 3:13
When You Don’t Feel Like It
We all struggle with spiritual discouragement and lethargy. Some days our circumstances threaten to overwhelm us, and we struggle just to pray. Many times we just don’t feel like doing the things we know we should. For one reason or another, God sometimes seems far off and unreachable.
David faced times like these in his life. The Psalms are filled with verses that express his despair and feeling of abandonment.
Yet the Psalms also give us the key to living victoriously during the dark periods of life. Let’s take a quick look at Psalm 119:89-95.
“For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances…”
My circumstances or feelings have not changed God. He is the same God today as He was when He hung the stars in the sky, led the Israelites through the Red Sea , and fed the five thousand.
“For all are thy servants…”
All things, even the things affecting me right now, are God’s servants. The circumstance, people, and events around me are all under God. They are His servants, designed to help and bless me spiritually.
“Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. I am thine, save me: for I have sought thy precepts. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.”
Recalling God’s faithfulness and control over everything that touches us gives us strength to walk with God even when we feel like giving up in despair. After all, our feelings and circumstances have not changed God. He is perfectly capable of sustaining us if we will only let Him. We simply need to choose to delight in and diligently consider God’s precepts (His principles and character) despite how we feel. Choosing to delight in God might not be easy. It might even involve hard work. But only God can revive and save our soul from spiritual lethargy.
Next time you feel spiritually drained or inadequate, remember that you have a choice. You can wrap yourself up in excuses and self-pity, or you can choose to draw your strength from an unchanging God.
When I recently read this is struck a cord in me that I couldn’t shake. I can wrap myself up in excuses and self pity or I can choose to draw my strength from an unchanging God who cares so deeply for me and wants the very best for me. It’s so easy to get caught up and overwhelmed by the daily obligations in life but if you turn it around and see your “obligations” as blessings it will completely change your perspective. Let’s take time today and draw strength from God and remind ourselves of the many blessings in our lives.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 119:89-95
How Should I Answer The Fears of My Own Heart?
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)
This has always been one of the hardest things for my heart to process. Mentally, I know that God loves me and that He isn’t out to get me, but I still fear the bad things that He may allow to happen to me in this broken world. I am still a work in process, slowly being perfected in the love of Jesus. But in the meantime, how should I, and others like me who struggle with fear, answer the fears of my own heart and the doubt in God’s perfect love that causes those fears?
First, we ought to remind ourselves that God is powerful and loving. God’s power goes beyond our comprehension of power and His love is beyond our understanding. This means that what God allows in our lives, even that which we fear most, is only allowed because He loves us and wants the ultimate best for us.
Second, we ought to remember that God is no stranger to fear or to painful situations. Jesus experienced mass alienation by His community, was betrayed by His closest friends, abused by society and the government and ultimately killed in a horrific and painful way. He begged the Father to remove the burden of the cross from His shoulders. He knew fear and anxiety. He understands when we feel those same things. We do not follow an unsympathetic, uncaring God. We follow a God who has wept bitterly and who has promised to one day wipe every single tear from our eye.
Some of us fear things that may never come to pass and we can become paralyzed by our fears and anxiety. And walking through this process mentally and emotionally can be difficult, especially when we have to do it time and again. But we have been called to pick up the cross and follow Him. Nelson Mandela said, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” We can feel fear and yet move on in spite of it, trusting that someday, we will be forever united with Christ in a place where fear cannot exist and where we are finally and fully made perfect and fearless in the love of Jesus.
I recently read this and incase there are those out there dealing with fear, my prayer is that this strengthens you in some way and gives you hope. Today let’s triumph over fear and set whatever it is aside and remind ourselves that no matter what happens in this life, we win! Live for Christ every day and one day fear will not exist. Wow! I am looking forward to that day.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 1 John 4
Hope
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13)
One definition for hope is: To look forward to with confidence or expectation. We must bring the Word of God with all its hope to someone who does not know it is real. When we bring hope, we bring life. It is life changing to finally believe again. It is more than just asking God for something we so badly need; we must expect our miracle. Somewhere in the midst of asking, believing, and expecting God to answer, we will find what we are looking for.
I have felt for a long time that the biggest problem we have in the world today is there are so many people who have lost hope. There seems to be so many hurts, problems, sicknesses, troubles, financial woes, family problems, world issues, political concerns, etc. It seems the world has no hope.
Apart from God, it is an awful, hopeless place. But with God’s help, we can make it. I want you to know that whatever situation you find yourself in at this moment, there is hope. You may not be able to see or feel the hope, but it is there for you. How do we find the hope? There is only one place where hope can be found, and that is in Jesus Christ.
Trust God. He wants you to trust Him. You need to agree with God about your situation. What does God say about who you are and what His will is for your life? Don’t go by your feelings. Instead we should remind ourselves that God only has plans for us that are good. Jeremiah helps us remember what God has to say about us. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).
We do not need to be disappointed and feel alone. We can have hope! God’s love in our hearts will ignite the flames of hope we have buried deep inside our hearts. God’s Word can encourage us as we read it with great anticipation and faith.
I don’t want this to be just another Devotion. I want it to bring life to you. Pray out loud the words of hope into your life and your situations. I have hope! My hope is in the Lord! I will be strong and wait on the Lord. I trust God with my life and the life of my family. Speak these words every day. Hope Is Real. It comes from God! He has placed it in your heart. Speak it out and watch what God will do for you. Amen!
As I prepared to post a devotion one word kept coming to my mind this morning, Hope! I feel someone needs a little hope today. When I read this devotion I felt someone needed to read it and my prayer is it touches someone in a way nobody could ever know but God. Hope in God! He will never fail you.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 31:24, Psalms 119:74, Isaiah 40:31, Romans 8:24, Romans 12:12
Be Strong and Courageous
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:9)
Moses had just spent forty years leading the Israelites through the wilderness. He was the only man to talk to God face to face (Exodus 33:11). He was a great leader and man of God, but his time was up. He was to pass the reins to a new leader who was to lead God’s people to the Promised Land. This man was Joshua.
The first 9 verses of Joshua Chapter 1 is comprised of God giving him a pep talk in preparation for his task. As you read this, note that there is one thing that God mentions over and over, “be strong and of a good courage.” God doesn’t tell Joshua to take it slow and to pray over every little detail. He doesn’t tell him to seek the council of five Godly men before he makes every decision. He tells him to be “strong and courageous.” God had already set in Joshua’s heart what he was to do, and He wanted him to do it.
As Christians, we can often spend much time trying to discern God’s will for our lives. This plays itself out in us stopping at every intersection in life to cast our lots or waiting for a voice from God. How many times has God given us this pep talk and told us to be “strong and courageous,” and we become timid and cowardly upon advice from those around us. Remember, Joshua was one of two men who said God could help them take the promised land while the other 10 were afraid (Numbers 13:30). God can call you to do great things as He did with Joshua. Be strong and courageous today in your walk with the Lord.
How can you walk in greater boldness with the Lord and still maintain wise counsel? What will this look like in your life, or those around you?
Have you been instructed by The Lord in times past to go and do great things for him? How many opportunities to make an impact have you passed up because you were timid and cowardly so the opportunity passed you by? When I read this my first thought was, guilty, we are flesh, we make mistakes, we allow intimidation to sometimes overtake us but it’s what we do once we get real with ourselves and say yes, guilty, and ask God to give us the strength and courage to go out and do what He has commanded us to do. Let us not allow one more day to pass us by but take advantage of today and be obedient. We are not guaranteed tomorrow but God has given you today. You can!! Be strong and courageous!!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Ephesians 6:10-20
Faint or Faith
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. (Proverbs 24:10)
I recently read, Adversity is a mirror. It’s a microscope. It’s the scalpel that opens us up and shows us what’s inside. Adversity, pain, and trials are what shake us.
When things are comfortable, we’re like a tranquil pond. Lilly pads quietly float atop the crystalline water below. Things are good. But then, the rocks of trial come hurdling down. Our water gets stirred up and the silt explodes into an inky cloud. Our once-pure pond is ruined! All of the gunk that’s lain silent is riled up and exposed. Suddenly, we discover facets, depths, and wrinkles in our hearts we’d never known were there. Maybe anger or resentment. Maybe greed or lust. Or any other number of things that come crawling out when the pressure’s on.
In trial, we find out who we really are, what’s really inside of us (Proverbs 17:3). In times like those, we have two choices: faint or faith.
We faint when we’re overwhelmed, when we’ve built the structure of our lives upon the sand. Finances can be shaken and shattered. Health can be gone before we finish crossing the street. Relationships can vanish with the wind—sweet for a moment, bitter the next. The problem is that the junk at the bottom of our pond is often the foundation we’ve built our security upon. But it shifts and shivers and shakes when adversity comes.
We faint when we’ve nothing left to stand on. We faint when our faith has been entrusted in ourselves, our bank accounts, our relationships, our still beating heart—really, our anything… But we learn from Jesus that the wise man built his house upon the rock (Matthew 7:24-27), and when the storm came, it stood. He weathered the hurricane because he’d entrusted the very foundation of his life, his family, and his hope to the great rock. Jesus is that rock. Our identity, value, and worth are both found and secured in him.
Adversity is painful. It is daunting. It is uncomfortable. But we shouldn’t spend our lives running from it.
Remember, Jesus was made perfect through suffering (Hebrews 2:10). Why should we think it will be any different for us? Should we really want it to be? Press into faith and stand in your days of adversity.
My prayer today is that I stand firm in my faith and not faint when the going gets rough. Faith in action. He is The Way maker. Trust Him!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord
Today’s Reading is Proverbs 24:10
God and Creation
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31)
God looked at his creation and said that it was very good. The world he created, the trees and plants, animals and insects, and even humans were a part of this “very good”. As Christians we do a good job of trying to bring the human part of creation back to the “very good” that God was talking about. We tell people about Jesus with the hope that they will put their faith in him. Our hope is that they may enter into the relationship with God that Adam and Eve had before the fall.
What we sometimes forget is that nature was also considered “very good” in God’s eyes. With this in mind, we tend to neglect the proper upkeep and care of nature. How many times have you been told it is your job as a Christian to protect the Earth from human destruction in a sermon? Probably never. Your first thought coming to your mind after the last two sentences might be “tree-huggers”.
In Romans 1:20 we learn that the creation God made shows his eternal power and divine nature. If this is the case, wouldn’t we want this creation to look the best for those who aren’t followers of Jesus? Do we want generations after us to look at a barren Earth with no hope on it and to think what kind of God would make this? Look around you today and thank God for the creation of nature. Let it bring to your remembrance his power and divinity. Let that spur you on to do the little you can to protect it, and to keep it clean.
Sometimes we forget that nature was also considered “very good” in God’s eyes. Let us remember today the blessings God has given us, and our ability and duty to protect every last one of them.
After I read this I almost scrolled past it but I couldn’t shake the truth behind it. Although to some it may seem a bit odd for a devotion I felt it had truth that isn’t shared very often. This provoked me to see God’s creation in a different light, it’s not just about us, we are not the only “very good” so today do something to make a difference in God’s creation. Even if that means not littering, picking up a piece of garbage you see on the ground, recycle, or walking instead of driving when you can, whatever it may be it starts with the small things that makes a world of difference.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Genesis 1
He is Patient
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9)
Wow! What truth! When I read this I felt I had to share it with someone else. I needed this today. He’s always speaking right to my hearts cry. What a mighty God we serve. What patience He has, when I think I am being forced to be patient with Him, the reality is that He is being patient with me as I mature in my faith. The Lord is never slow to answer His children. He always answers in perfect timing. Thank You Lord for showing me and reminding me of this truth today. Amen!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 2 Peter 3:8-9