Fearless Faith (Psalm 27:1-3)
Psalm 27:1-3, The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. As a minister was driving with his wife, they stopped in a small Iranian village to purchase some water. Before entering, the minister noticed a man holding a machine gun and leaning against the wall outside the store. The minister's wife looked at the man's face and the gun, then put a Bible in her husband's hand and said, "Give that man this Bible." Her husband looked at the man—his menacing beard and his machine gun—and replied, "I don't think so." But she persisted: "I'm serious. Give it to him. Please, give him the Bible." Trying to avoid the issue, the husband said, "Okay, I'll pray about it." He went into the shop, purchased the water, climbed back into the car, and started to drive away. His wife looked at him and said, "I guess you didn't give him the Bible, did you?" Looking straight ahead, he replied, "No, I prayed about it and it wasn't the right thing to do." She quietly said, "You should have given him the Bible," and then she bowed her head and started praying. At that point, he turned around and told his wife, "Fine! If you want me to die, I will." When the minister returned to the store, the man with the machine gun was still standing against the wall. The minister approached him and placed the Bible in his hand. When the man opened it and saw it was a Bible, he started to cry. It turned out that the man did not live in the village. He was told by a stranger to walk to the village and to wait for someone to give him the Book of Life. After walking three days to the village, this soul-searching man was waiting for someone to approach him. He was thrilled when the pastor spoke to him and thanked the pastor for the Bible. The pastor became a courageous witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. Eventually, along with many other co-workers in the Iranian church, he was martyred for his faith in Christ. His testimony shined for the Lord. May we lose our fear of what man might do to us. II Timothy 1:7, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. May the Lord help us to not be afraid to stand up for Him and share the message of God's Word with others. Be ready the next time He calls on you to witness for Him. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
Prayer: LORD, open a door for me today and give me the courage that I might have an opportunity to share Your glorious Gospel with someone today who is in deep need of You. Help give me understanding that would enable me to speak the words that You would have them to hear. Help me to be a bold and yet compassionate witness without compromise for You. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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The Company You Keep (Psalm 119:63)
Psalm 119:63, I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. David made a wise decision. He abandoned the workers of iniquity and associated with them that feared the Lord. He pledged that he would be a friend to anyone who feared and obeyed the Lord. Perhaps some of God’s faithful people were standing by him as he endured intense persecution. Knowing in his heart that his enemies could easily turn on other followers, he promised his loyalty and support to all fellow believers who kept God’s laws. David here describes his associations. It was with those who feared God and were obedient to His Word. That lesson remains particularly true for this day. Our associates and friends ought to be those who fear God and are completely obedient to His Word. If we choose companions that fear God and keep His precepts, then we will have true friends. Two people that are close to God will draw near to each other. Your friends will be those whom you have things in common. Be a spiritual Christian and you will have spiritual companions. The Bible puts it best in Proverbs 18:24, A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. David’s companions manifested the kind of faith he possessed. Trials and persecution should strengthen our decision to remain obedient to God, to stand fast in our faith. As believers in today’s world, we are facing increasing pressure to back down from our faith in Christ and our faithfulness to God’s inspired Word. So, while the world turns further away from the truths of Scripture, and while hostile governments, religious fanatics, and godless societies continue to rise, we must determine to stand fast for our Lord and His holy Word. It was David’s desire to be united and in fellowship with those who loved the Lord and His Word. It was his goal to live in such a way that those who loved and feared God would want to fellowship with him. May the Lord help us to live in such a way that our life is a source of strength, blessing, and encouragement to others to live for Christ. We are greatly influenced by our friends and companions. Companion here is one that is an associate, or one knit together. Two requirements for those we associate with are that they fear God and keep His commandments. 1. The Selection of Friends “I am a companion of all them...” Those words reflect a choice. Your companions are those you choose. You must determine in your heart to keep good company. Good company does not come by accident; we must pray, seeking the Lord for godly companions. You must choose godly company if you want good company. It is often said we will become like the books we read, the media we watch, and the friends we keep. 2. The Sorts of Friends “...that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.” Those who have reverence and respect for God will be good company. Those who disrespect God, mock God, and criticize God are those you should stay away from in the company you keep. People that live by the Word of God are good people to associate with in fellowship. Godly people are good companions. A person who is evil is one you do not want to associate with in life. He will lead you down the wrong path, but Biblical friends will be there to hold you up when you stumble. Proverbs 13:20, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Looking at this verse, it is easy to see that if you hang around people who are wise when it comes to the Lord, then you will be wise as well. If you hang around people who witness, then you will witness as well. If you are around people who are taking a stand for Christ, it is going to help you take a stand. Proverbs 27:17, Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Jonathan was attempting to finish his project but struggling to complete it in time. Tom, a new neighbor, walked over and offered to help. Tom had a collection of nice tools and had everything needed for the job. When they finished the job, Jonathan was amazed at Tom’s collection of tools and asked him what he made with such tools. “Friends mostly,” Tom answered. Questions to Consider: Do you live your life in such a way that people know you are a Christian? Do godly people feel comfortable around you because of your love for God? Are you helping your friends grow closer to Christ? Do your friends sharpen you spiritually or do they dull you? Who are your friends? Are they wise or foolish? Points to Ponder: We are to be careful about the company we keep. Those you spend your time with will have an influence in your life. When you find godly friends, they contribute to your life. Ask Christ to help you draw your friends into a closer relationship with Him today. Keeping God's Word will be easier if we have friends that want to keep it, too. Choose companions that bring you closer to the Lord. PRAYER: Lord, thank You for saving my soul and for Your gift of eternal life. You used a friend and a co-worker to lead me to You. You have given me a church family who loves You and prays fervently for me. You have given me my very best friend, my wife, who stands by my side faithfully and encourages me. May I serve You faithfully, in Jesus name, AMEN. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com His Life For Mine (Romans 5:8)
Romans 5:8, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The following are a few of the numerous Scriptures regarding Christ giving His life for us (John 3:16; 11:50; Matthew 20:28; Romans 5:17-19). The deepest, most profound, and most edifying subjects in all the Word of God is found in II Corinthians 5:21, ‘He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him! ’ He died in our place, so that when we die, we will never spend eternity in Hell, separated from the LORD. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). For the believer, there is no possibility of condemnation! The most marvelous thing that ever took place upon the earth was Jesus Christ, God the eternal Son, was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him! Jesus Christ not only died in our place. But He also has taken our punishment and our charges (Romans 3:21-26), and there is no sin in Him (II Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 9:14; I Peter 2:22; I John 3:5). Substitution is the core doctrine of Christianity. This is the rock upon which our hopes are built. This is the only hope of the sinner and the only true joy of all saints. These two things, Christ being made sin and us being made righteousness, could only be accomplished by substitution. There was no possible way for the Lord of glory to be made sin, except by imputation. And there is no way by which any man can be made righteousness, except by imputation. It is a legal matter. At Calvary Christ became sin for us, and we became righteousness in Him. As surely as Christ was made sin, all of those for whom He died are made righteous. Impute means to put on someone's account; To charge something to another’s account. We had a debt we owed that we could never pay (Romans 5:12). Jesus is the payer of our sin debt. It means that Jesus places His righteousness upon our record when we trust upon Him for salvation. Imputation is the act of God whereby our sins are put on Christ’s account and His righteousness is put on our account. It means that Jesus took our sins upon His record and then placed His righteousness upon our record. What a wonderful truth! To think that Jesus would bare our sins upon His own body and suffer the crucifixion for us. Jesus would place all His righteousness upon our record so that we might be viewed upon by God as having the righteousness of Christ. Now that is a loving God! If we take it for what it means it can affect our lives in understanding how much the Lord Jesus Christ loves us. We can never understand the depths of wisdom and grace revealed in the substitutionary death of Christ. But we who have seen Him dying in our stead should never cease to worship, adore, love, and trust our merciful Redeemer. Jesus earnestly wants to impute your sin to His record and impute His righteousness to your record. If you will receive Christ’s righteousness He will impute His righteousness to your account, that when you stand before God, you will stand before Him as though you have never sinned; not because your sinless, but because of your account has been settled. If you would like to accept Him as your Lord and Saviour, it all begins when you say yes to Jesus and let Him become your Saviour. All you must do to be saved is admit your guilty condition before God for violating His holy Law (Romans 3:19), and then trust Jesus to wash away your sins with His shed blood. PRAYER: Father I thank You for Jesus who paid the sin debt that I owed and could never repay. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Watching for Christ’s Return (Matthew 24:42-44)
Matthew 24:42-44, Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your LORD doth come. 43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Those who are totally devoted to the Lord look forward to His coming. It could be today. Are you watching for the Lord's return? Watch means to keep awake; to stay alert; to be watchful and sleepless; to be vigilant. It also carries the idea of being motivated, of keeping one's attention or mind upon a thing. Watching also has the idea of being alert at the right time. It is at night that a person really needs to stay awake and watch for the thief (I Thessalonians 5:4-9). I Peter 4:7, But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. Because He could come at any moment, those who are devoted to the Lord want to be ready for His coming. They don't want to be ashamed when He comes. Until that day, they do their best to serve Him with all their hearts, keep themselves pure, and maintain a right relationship with God and others. God does not operate on our timetable, and Jesus will surely return right on schedule. It is important for us not to be lulled into complacency by the fact that Jesus has not yet returned. Jesus pointed out that such false thinking can quickly lead to bad conduct on our part. Each day of our lives should be filled with a conscious awareness that it may be this day that the Lord returns. This is an exciting time to be a Christian. We might not know the day or the hour of Christ’s return, but we do know it’s going to be soon. As Jesus told His disciples, we need to be watching for His return. We ought to make the most of every opportunity to tell others how they can be saved. And we should be living pure and holy lives so we’re not ashamed when Jesus comes. The Bible is literally being fulfilled before our eyes. That makes me more excited than ever about seeing my Saviour. If we keep eternity in perspective, then we won’t worry as much about things we lack here on Earth. We will resist temptation because we want Christ to find us pure and blameless at His return. An eternal perspective will help us give the Lord the preeminence. Are you ready to meet Jesus? He’s coming sooner than you might think. God doesn’t tell us some things for a reason. He wants us to live each and every day as if that could be the day! Today could be the day. But no one will be able to claim, “I knew it!” We’re all going to be surprised. But not all of us are going to be ready! Are you ready if Christ returns today? Questions to Consider: · Are you watching for the Lord's return?
Points to Ponder:
Prayer: LORD, help me to see anything in my life that would keep me from loving Your appearing. And help me to be more purposeful in keeping my relationships right and my attitude fully expectant of Your return. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Are You A Burden Bearer?…Carrying Someone’s Burden (Galatians 6:2)
Galatians 6:2, Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. There is no shortage of people in need. Have you ever been so busy in life that you missed the opportunity to do something big in the life of another? We all need help and we are all helpers—that’s part of being human. But what does it look like to help each other well? The people who help best are people who both need help and give help—being able to share their burdens and to bear the burdens of others. In many cities in the Middle East, carriages or carts were not allowed to enter the city gates, so porters usually had to carry heavy loads on their backs. These men were often chosen from among the poor and were forced to spend long days and nights in back-breaking labor. Often, two porters would walk side-by-side and take turns relieving each other. So when Jesus told those who were “heavy-laden” to come to Him for rest it was a clear illustration of an everyday struggle (Matthew 11:28). When Paul encouraged the Galatian church to “bear one another’s burdens,” (Galatians 6:2), it was more than a spiritual truth, it was a way for Christians to practically live out their faith. Walking alongside someone who is going through hardship means making time for that person, maybe at a child’s ball game, or at church, or over coffee, or during a small group meeting. It means having conversations that go beneath the surface, hearing what’s on his or her heart, and praying for and together with the person. As people who are needed, we can ask to hear our friend’s story. The better you know other people, the more you enjoy, appreciate, pray with, and love them. And the more you love them, the more they will invite you into their lives in times of hardship. Problems are complex, and there will be times when limits to our human gifts, abilities, and experience create the need for co-helpers. Maybe today you can do something to help lighten someone’s load. Think of someone who is hurting in your church or your community and think of a way you can do something practical that will help them. Bearing other’s burdens is sometimes more than kind words and sweet notes. It’s rolling up your sleeves and doing something positive to affect their lives. If we are not willing to help others with their problems, then we have no one to whom we can minister. I want to encourage you today to be sensitive to the needs of others who are around you. When you go to church, go to work, or even spend time with your family and friends, ask the Holy Spirit to help you see when people are carrying too much by themselves. If you discern that they are burdened, go to them and ask, “How can I pray for you today? What is happening in your life?” God may use you to bring real relief and freedom into someone’s situation. Perhaps just providing a listening ear is all that is needed to help that person get through his or her dilemma. On the other hand, if an overwhelming problem, weakness, habit, or sin is pressing down on your life, you need to be humble enough to say, “Hey, I need someone to pray with me! This is too much for me to do completely by myself!” It may be difficult for you to open your heart and reveal your need, but it will be far more difficult for you to carry it alone until you eventually become emotionally devastated by that burden. As brothers and sisters in the Lord, we need to do everything we can to step deeply into people’s lives in order to encourage and refresh them spiritually and to help them get through their problems. When we see someone struggling, we must be bold enough to ask that person how we can help! When we work together as a Body in this way, every need will be addressed and met! 1. Have there been situations in your life when you thought you might break under the weight you were trying to carry by yourself? When that happened, did anyone come to you and ask how he or she might help or pray for your needs? 2. Have you ever gone to others to see how you could help them through the situations they were enduring? Or have you been too self-consumed to remember that other people have needs too? 3. Do you know of individuals you should check on today to see what you can do to help them through a situation they are facing? In what ways can you be a strength or an encouragement to them? Prayer, Lord, I am asking You to help me be sensitive to the needs of other people. Help me to stop being so self-consumed with my own concerns that I am negligent in recognizing the needs of people around me who need help and prayer. Holy Spirit, help me see through the masks people tend to wear to cover up what is really happening in their lives. Give me the wisdom to know how to approach people who need strength and encouragement. I pray this in Jesus’ name! Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com All Lives Matter to Him (Ephesians 1:6)
Ephesians 1:6, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Notice: He has made us accepted. We are acceptable to God. Accepted means to be approved and adorned in the same sense that God has accepted, or is pleased with, Jesus (John 17:23). Here is a question. When did God start loving us? Was it when we desired to live for Him and to do His will? Was it when we were saved? Was it when we were born? Was it when we were in our mother’s womb? Was it when He created the world? No, He loved us long before that. His love is an everlasting love, a love without a beginning, as eternal as He Himself is (Jeremiah 31:3). What is God's acceptance of us based upon? How can a sinner be saved and accepted? Our acceptance and salvation is based upon Christ’s shed blood for us. When God sees us He sees no sin. This is our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:17). In His grace, we are accepted in our fellowship with Jesus. Redemption means to go to the market to purchase; to buy and ransom for rescue; to loosen with ransom. We have the forgiveness of sins and redemption through His blood (Ephesians 1:7). Can we depend upon God's acceptance? We are accepted by a God who does not change. Hebrews 6:17-18, “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:” God's two "unchangeable things" are His nature and His promise. God personifies all truth and He cannot lie. Because God is truth, you can be secure in His promises. You don't need to wonder if He will change His plans. To the true seeker who comes to God in belief God gives an unconditional promise of acceptance. When you ask God with openness, honesty and sincerity to save you from your sins, He will do it. This assurance should give you courage and hope. Since Christ received us we ought to receive one another. How important is it to accept other people? Romans 15:7, “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” Accepting others grows out of obedience to Christ. To accept Jesus' Lordship in all areas of life means to share His values and His view. Just as we accept Jesus' views on the authority of Scripture, the nature of Heaven and the Resurrection, so we are to have his attitude of love toward other Christians. As we grow in faith and come to know Jesus better, we become more capable of maintaining this attitude. 1. Acceptance toward the Undesirable. Leprosy has always been a fearful and frightening disease. In Jesus times, when Christ ministered on earth, lepers were considered outcasts from society. According to the Jewish law they were unclean. When a leper was ever approached by someone the leper would have to yell, “Unclean, Unclean”. Jesus’ response to a leper was an acceptable approach where he received the leper as He stretched out his hand and touched him in Mark 1:41. In Mark 5, it was a former demon possessed man who was now a new man in Christ Jesus, who Jesus Himself, commissioned to go to Decapolis to share his testimony of Christ’s love. Jesus did not allow the society around Him to dictate who, or how, He was going to accept and treat others. Too often we allow the crowds, cliques and inner circles determine who and how we accept. 2. Acceptance toward the Unimportant. In today’s society mankind is categorized in ranks etc. However, in Jesus’ kingdom, there are no big I’s and little you’s. Often we are quick to accept people of prominence if we feel we will reap a benefit from the relationship. In Matthew 19, parents wanted Jesus to touch their children, to bless their children and to pray for their children. However, the disciples believed Christ was too busy to be bothered by little children and sought to send away the parents and their children. Like those little children, all people are important to God. Jesus’ response is seen in Matthew 19:13-15. All lives matter to the Lord, regardless of the age, race, social status, or background. Everyone is important to the Lord and He has a work for everyone to do. It is His will that not any perish but that all come unto Him for repentance in II Peter 3:9. He invites all to come to Him in Matthew 11:30. Any and all who come to Him He will not reject (John 6:37). 3. Acceptance toward the Underestimated. In John 6, it was Jesus who accepted this little boys sack lunch to be part of such a miracle. It’s amazing that a small child with just five loaves and two fish was used by God to feed five thousand men. This miracle was recorded in all four Gospel accounts. His blessing to those around him is a lesson for us today. You may feel small and insignificant. You may feel like these disciples felt, helpless and hopeless to minister to anyone. You may be the only one like this little boy and wonder how Jesus could ever use you, but just put yourself in the hands of the master. Give him all you have. Use the talents God has given you through the Holy Spirit to serve Him and encourage others. He will use it all, multiply it all, and will waste none. You can serve him and others for God’s glory. Who has God placed in your life that you can minister to? Prayer, Father, thank You for always seeing in me what others may never see and for giving me the strength and desire to serve You. Help me to utilize these truths for the purpose of ministering to others. Please show me how I can actively and passionately engage in the ministry opportunities You have sovereignly placed around me. Give me eyes to recognize these opportunities, a heart dependent on You, and a desire to come alongside people in my life to help them to grow into a deeper relationship with You. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Storms of Life (Acts 27)
Acts 27 speaks of a great storm that occurred at sea, causing Paul’s fourth shipwreck, while he was on his way to Rome. Although the ship was damaged beyond repair, thankfully, no one on board lost his life. The Lord knows where we are and what we go through! Amid a great and long storm there was on the ship the man of God who had a word from God. Christian’s should give words of hope and encouragement in times of darkness and trials! We know the Lord Jesus and the forgiveness of sins and we have been given the Word of God and we are the light of the world! Paul was letting his light shine on the ship in the dark and difficult days. Paul gave an address to the crew—he began to preach and exhort the people. Obviously, they should have listened to Paul's warning. In such a critical hour of need Paul had a word from the Lord, but the people resisted his warning. Much of the world’s problems today are because people will not listen. Many will listen and receive the advice from the philosopher, the psychologist and the professor, but reject men like Paul. Because the crew was stubborn and prideful they would not listen to Paul and the result was that they experienced disaster and loss. It pays to pay attention to men of God with a Word from God! You may be in the midst of a difficult storm right now. Your life may be headed in a direction contrary to God's will, but if you belong to Him hope remains. The children of God are going to make it home. Storms will come our way, but we are secure in Jesus; therefore, believe God and trust in Him. He is greater than any storm we may face. He can either calm the storm or calm us in the midst of the storm. If we could see Him as He is, we would find peace and refuge. Is Jesus at the helm of your vessel? Are you following His direction, or have you chosen to chart your own course? Going contrary to the will of God is never a good decision. The Lord stands ready to restore you, but you must seek Him. If you are going your own way things will soon get out of hand, if they haven't already. If you are not part of the family of God you are charting your own course. As of yet, you have failed to admit your need for the Lord or His guidance in your life. He stands ready to save and direct your life as well. Come to the Lord and receive the peace that only He can give. Questions to Consider: Trials can make us either better or bitter. What makes the difference? Is it a sin to be discouraged? Why/why not? It is easy in a trial to feel angry toward God? Is this ever permissible? If so, how? If not, how do we deal with it? Sometimes our attempts to encourage someone fails. How can we offer genuine encouragement in Christ? Are there things that we should avoid saying or doing at such times? Prayer: Lord, as we sail through life's storms, may Your presence and rule in our lives preserve our trust in You. May we not allow the winds and waves to draw us aside from serving You faithfully, wholeheartedly, courageously. When we must decide whether to believe circumstances or the Sovereign Lord, may we again and again choose to trust in You. May others see You in us and come to know You too. In Jesus' name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Faith That Pleases God (Hebrews 11:6)
Hebrews 11:6, 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. The importance of walking by faith in the Lord is a paramount principle of the Christian life. When the Lord saved us, He also gave us a will or purpose for our lives. This is why it is so vital that we walk with the Lord every day. Often God asks us to take a step of faith before He shows us what He is up to. He did this with Abraham in Genesis 12. When the Lord told Abraham to leave in Genesis 12:1, he obeyed the LORD. Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him in Genesis 12:4. Abraham was just told to get up and get out and then God would reveal which direction he was to take. That’s faith according to II Corinthians 5:7, (For we walk by faith, not by sight:). The majority of the time people want the whole plan revealed or laid out before them before they will even consider packing to move. Galatians 3:11, But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. Galatians 3:11 is actually a quote from Habakkuk 2:4. Habakkuk 2:4, Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Paul also quoted Romans 1:17, For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. The importance of this statement is revealed through its repetition. Hebrews 10:38, Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Faith is a fundamental of the Christian life. Galatians 3:11 makes it clear that living by faith is a righteous thing. God wants us to live by faith. Hebrews 11:6, 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 makes it clear that it is impossible to please God without faith. This verse points out two paramount principles of what faith is. First, faith is believing that God is—that He exists, and that He is who the Scriptures say He is. Second, faith is trusting that God rewards those who seek Him. When we understand this, we will want to involve Him in every area of our lives. Romans 14:23 shows us the flip side of faith. Romans 14:23, And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Whenever we fail to exercise our faith the end always results in negativity. The outcome is loneliness, disobedience, worry, guilt, etc. To diligently seek the LORD, Jesus tells us to:
The person who needs something and lives on their face in prayer before God (asking, seeking, and knocking) will experience God answering their need. They will be encouraged to trust God, to seek and knock even more and more. A person who has genuine faith in God will be:
Trusting in God brings blessing, while trusting in man brings curse. Sooner or later man will always disappoint us and let us down. God is not that way. Trusting in man is like being a bush in the desert—dependent on inconsistent rain to have our needs met. Trusting in God is like being a tree planted by a continual source of water. Psalm 1:3, And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Those who live by faith will enrich the community they have been entrusted with. It is not enough to experience blessings handed down, but we must add to it. The place where you live can either become worse, remain as it is, or become better; it depends on your faith and work. POINT TO PONDER: If we are to experience the life God has for us, it will be only by faith and that means trusting Him step by step. The LORD cares for you and He desires that we believe in His existence. He wants a personal and infinite relationship with us, this can only happen through faith in His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: In what areas of my life am I intentionally exercising the faith that pleases God? In what ways are you honoring the Lord with your life? Would you be willing to diligently pursue a deeper relationship with God and passionately desire His presence, power and purpose in your life? PRAYER: Father, thank You for the gift of faith that You give, that I can then use to trust You to do all the things that I could never do for myself, but need to have done! Guard me from thinking that anything in me could please You apart from faith. You even provide that! And thank You for Your amazing grace toward me, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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