The great Hall of Fame of Faith chapter in Hebrews 11 reminds us that "…without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6 [ESV]).
How better to prove that He exists was there than for God Himself to come in the flesh and take upon the form of man in Jesus Christ? As the Apostle Paul explains it in Galatians 4:4-5 [ESV], 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. But to be called His sons we must come to Him on His terms in obedient, saving faith, just as all of those great men and women of renown of old did who are listed in Hebrews 11.
A life spent learning to obey God is like a journey with a stating point, a route and a destination. For Abraham that journey began when he left his home in Ur of the Chaldees to travel wherever God would lead him. He did not always know what route that journey would take. But he learned through faith to trust in God to direct his steps. We can all be encouraged by these examples from the life of the father of the faithful, Abraham.
Your journey may not be as eventful as Abraham’s, but you can be sure there will be tests and trials, ups and downs, successes and failures along the way. One of the wisest men who ever walked the face of the Earth succinctly pointed this out long, long ago when a young man named Elihu stated to Job and his friends, 2 “Do you think this to be just? Do you say, 'It is my right before God,' 3 that you ask, 'What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?' 4 I will answer you and your friends with you. 5 Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you. 6 If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him? 7 If you are righteous, what do you give to Him? Or what does He receive from your hand? 8 Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man.” (Job 35:2-8 [ESV]) We love God because He is, not because we deserve any reward from Him. This is the message Jesus taught in His Parable of the Master and the Servant (Parable of the Unprofitable Servant) in Luke 17:7-10.
One does not learn to live by faith all at once. It does not come naturally. You must learn and, as you learn, you will make mistakes. But those mistakes need not cut you off from God. He is a patient, compassionate and merciful teacher. He is a gracious, loving Father! And for those who do follow God in faith, there is the absolute promise given by Jesus Christ: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).
How better to prove that He exists was there than for God Himself to come in the flesh and take upon the form of man in Jesus Christ? As the Apostle Paul explains it in Galatians 4:4-5 [ESV], 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. But to be called His sons we must come to Him on His terms in obedient, saving faith, just as all of those great men and women of renown of old did who are listed in Hebrews 11.
A life spent learning to obey God is like a journey with a stating point, a route and a destination. For Abraham that journey began when he left his home in Ur of the Chaldees to travel wherever God would lead him. He did not always know what route that journey would take. But he learned through faith to trust in God to direct his steps. We can all be encouraged by these examples from the life of the father of the faithful, Abraham.
Your journey may not be as eventful as Abraham’s, but you can be sure there will be tests and trials, ups and downs, successes and failures along the way. One of the wisest men who ever walked the face of the Earth succinctly pointed this out long, long ago when a young man named Elihu stated to Job and his friends, 2 “Do you think this to be just? Do you say, 'It is my right before God,' 3 that you ask, 'What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?' 4 I will answer you and your friends with you. 5 Look at the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds, which are higher than you. 6 If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him? 7 If you are righteous, what do you give to Him? Or what does He receive from your hand? 8 Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man.” (Job 35:2-8 [ESV]) We love God because He is, not because we deserve any reward from Him. This is the message Jesus taught in His Parable of the Master and the Servant (Parable of the Unprofitable Servant) in Luke 17:7-10.
One does not learn to live by faith all at once. It does not come naturally. You must learn and, as you learn, you will make mistakes. But those mistakes need not cut you off from God. He is a patient, compassionate and merciful teacher. He is a gracious, loving Father! And for those who do follow God in faith, there is the absolute promise given by Jesus Christ: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).
1 comment:
Praise God!
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