TO CHEW ON: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
In a world where we can't see into the future, it's impossible to live without faith. I believe, when I take my next step, that the ground will still be there to step on. At the traffic light, I believe you, coming from the opposite direction, will stop when your light turns red so I can proceed safely on my green. We make plans for tomorrow believing that we'll be around to carry them out.
Similarly our view of spiritual reality is based on faith. Whether we hold to evolution or creation, a materialistic no-God universe or a universe created by an intelligent deity, we hang onto those beliefs by faith. We do more. We use those beliefs to filter all our experiences.
Tucked in the middle of the Hebrews 11 series of examples showing us what faith in action looks like, is a statement about faith in general (Hebrews 11:6). From it we learn four important things about faith:
1. Our faith in God pleases Him.
2. Our faith starts with a belief in His existence.
3. We can't even come to God or know Him without faith.
4. He rewards us when we seek Him.
We live our physical lives without a lot of agonizing over whether or not the ground under our feet will remain solid, we can trust each other in traffic, or tomorrow will arrive. Do we live our spiritual lives with the same level of confidence?
There is a point in life, where we decide what we will believe. Once we have decided for God, do our lives exhibit the same certainty about spiritual realities as physical? Do we believe in God's existence as surely as the ground beneath our feet? Do we take Him at His word that He is approachable and knowable? Do we live with hope, in the firm belief that our search to know and please Him will be rewarded?
PRAYER: Dear God, I have staked my whole belief system on Your existence. Help me to live my life consistent with this belief and with the faith that pleases You. Amen.
MORE: Michael Card -The Poem of Your Life
"We are living letters that doubt desecrates
We're the notes of the song of the chorus of faith"
(all lyrics)
Do your 8-12-year-olds have daily devotions? Point them to Bible Drive-Thru.
And even faith is a gift from Him. Thank you, Father.
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