An Example of Faith

Hebrews 11: 8-10
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.


If you have never read through this chapter of Hebrews, I would highly recommend it - it is such an encouragement to be reminded of those who lived by faith, despite overwhelming odds. Abraham is, however, the main person I think of when I want an example of one who lived by faith. He is used (along with David) in Romans chapter 4 as our primary example of one who became righteous through his belief in God and God’s promised Messiah.

What I find so remarkable about this man of God, is not just his faith, although it is highly commendable. The most amazing part of his story is that he did not have an example of faith set for him, rather, he is the one setting the example for all the believers who have come after him. He came from a heathen family, not having parents that taught him to love, worship and trust in the Living God. Yet, when God came to Abram (he later was given the name Abraham) and told him to go to a land that he didn’t yet know, leaving his father’s family and everything he knew behind (at the age of 75, I might add), Abram didn’t hesitate. He up-rooted his wife and family, and headed off, trusting that God would lead him. I think about that and wonder at the difficulty we have just obeying the smallest command. Wow! What an example Abraham has set for us - a true legacy to be followed.

We, unlike Abraham, have many examples around us to encourage us in our faith-walk. There are so many books, in addition to the Bible, that we can read about the many passionate followers of Christ, and what they did in their faith. We have been blessed abundantly, in that way.

So, I must then ask this question - with so many examples around us, are we following them? Are we using their examples to strengthen our own faith? Then, we need to take it to the next level - are we setting an example for those around us? Can our friends and family see what God is doing through us? Can they see the results of our faith in God?

Just as we have been given so many examples of faith to learn from, we should also be setting an example for those who will be watching us. I did a Bible study a couple years ago, by Beth Moore, where we studied Hebrews chapter 11, and all the examples of faith laid out for us in those verses. Then, when we were done, Beth had us write in our Bibles, right after verse 40, a 41, followed by "By faith, [your name] . . ." reminding us that we are to live a life of faith, and through that faith, we can accomplish anything God would ask us to do. If you write in your Bible, I would highly recommend you do the same, and then we can spend the rest of our lives filling in those 3 little dots, all by faith!

Ultimately, God desires that we would leave a faith legacy - is that what we’re doing?

Blessings

John 1:16
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.


The other night I made some chocolate chip cookies, my daughter’s favorite. I originally told her she could have only one, but when asked so sweetly, I gave in and gave her another as we read her bedtime stories. As we finished her stories, and prepared to say our bedtime prayers, she declared that she wanted another cookie, to which I responded, "No, you’ve already had two." This, of course, led to tears and pouting, and much opposition. I tried to explain to her that she needed to just be thankful that she got two (since I was only going to give her one), instead of pouting about the one cookie she didn’t get. She really didn’t understand, so I just had to tell her that I give her cookies because they make her happy and that makes me happy. If she wasn’t going to be happy about her cookies, then I wouldn’t make them anymore. This made her change her tone pretty quickly, and it got me thinking.

How often do we sit and pout and complain about the blessing we didn’t receive, instead of being thankful for the ones we did? How often do we sit and think and pray about the blessing yet-to-come, instead of looking around us and seeing what we already have, knowing that we don’t deserve any of it?

It seems that as we grow in our Christian faith we begin to think that we deserve blessings from God, that they are our right, as His children. We forget how unworthy we are even to receive salvation and life, let alone all the other blessings He pours out on us. We neglect to remember that blessings are added, extra-special little gifts that God delights to give us, because they make us happy. They are not something we are entitled to, although, we are guaranteed that we will get them - it’s part of being His child. After-all, what parent doesn’t like to give their child extra-special little gifts, now and then?

Let’s take some time today and just look at our lives and be thankful for each and every blessing God has already given us. Let’s thank Him, and reflect on the fact that none of this is anything we have earned, or deserve, but these blessings are simply little gifts from a Father to His child who delights in His love.

Glory out of Bondage

Exodus 3:19-20
But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.


Bondage is a nasty place to live, isn’t it? I think we’ve all been there at one time or another, if we are not there now. God desires that we would be free from all this stuff that likes to suck our time, energy, and life. But He desires more than that. Not only does He want us to be free, but He wants to display His glory and power in the midst of our struggle for freedom - to us, as well as to those around us.

If you have never read about all the plagues God sent to persuade Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, I would highly recommend it (you can find the story in the first 12 chapters of Exodus). I am amazed at the wonders God performs not only for the sake of the Egyptians, but for the sake of the Israelites as well. I can’t imagine having been witness to such grand displays of power. It’s easy to simplify it all and think that God sent the plagues only to show Pharaoh Whom he is dealing with. But I believe there is more to it than that. I believe that God wanted to show Himself also to the Egyptians. On top of that, He wanted to remind the Israelites that the God they served was a mighty and powerful God, Who was willing (and still is) to move heaven and earth for His children.

That is what we can take away from this - we have a God that will move heaven and earth for our freedom, and He wants us to remember that. When He is walking us from our bondage into freedom, He wants us to see His mighty work in our lives, that we would marvel at what He would do for us. And He wants those around us to see it too. Maybe they won’t be able to identify God, exactly, but they will be able to see the change - they will notice the difference in us.

But God cannot display His power and glory if we do not let Him do what He must to free us from our bondage. When we get comfortable in our slavery, we refuse to let Him work, and then we wonder why we’re stuck and don’t see Him moving in our lives. We think He has forgotten us, that He will not help. We wonder why we can’t seem to move forward in our intimacy with God, when in fact He desires that we would, but we need to let Him free us first.

Let’s each of us seek God to see what areas we are stuck in. We all have our issues - some big, some small - and we must work through all of them with God, allowing Him to display His power and glory. Let’s go to God each day, starting today, allowing Him to work in us and through us to move us into freedom - a freedom to love and worship Him with complete abandon, not tied to the things of this world. And let's take a moment to remember all the chains He has loosed from us, and the glory He has displayed in our lives.