06/28/2018
Faith, do you desire it, do you seek it, do you accept it? Can you recognize faith when you see it in others? At its inception faith is ethereal in nature and we can’t hold it in our hand, but when we have a touch of it within ourselves we suddenly begin to see evidence of it all around us. When we have accepted faith it can suddenly be measured. So I ask... do you hold a mustard seed in your hand?
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
Hebrews 11:8 ESV
The great men and women of the bible all had faith... why else would they do the things they did? Why would they suffer in life for something that no man around them had ever seen? A logical man would look at someone who built a massive Arc on dry land as being deranged. A right thinking person would listen to the story of Paul and Silas remaining in their jail cell after an earthquake had freed them, and think... “these men are crazy! What is wrong with them? Run!” Faith, it changes us, it reorders the way we see the world around us, and it allows us to recognize as substance what so many view as just a misty apparition.
“When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here."”
Acts 16:27-28 ESV
So what is it in our own religious life, or our faith in God’s will for us, that we see as real while others believe it to be just a Dream, or count it as the mental workings of a deranged or naive mind? Is God giving us and our offspring an inheritance that seems impossible, or telling us to prepare a means of rescue from a calamity that couldn’t possibly occur? How about giving birth when we are way past childbearing years, or asking us to erect a grand temple?
The interesting thing about all of the stories regarding faith is that despite the disbelievers, the belief each of these faithful men and women saw as real came to fruition; maybe not in the manner they anticipated but they did manifest themselves. Abraham left his home and pitched tents as he roamed the land that God have him, Sarah gave birth but not until she had sent her handmaiden in to Abraham, David did not build the temple but his son Solomon did, Moses led the Israelites to the Promised Land but wasn’t allowed to go in himself... and each of these stories builds the faith of those who follow after them. In Hebrews 11 they are called out one after another to bolster our faith in Jesus Christ... to make the unseen a reality.
During His life, Jesus reaffirmed faith quite often. Though He is a real man, He works the miracles of faith, and facilitates the faith of those around Him as they come to fruition... listen:
“And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."”
Mark 5:34 ESV
Or again to the leper:
“And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."”
Luke 17:19 ESV
So what is your faith revealing to you that God would have you do? What seemingly impossible occurrence will your faith make real to you, or what outlandish quest is He sending you on that only your faith will allow you to travel? Are you opening your hand to find a mustard seed there, or, perhaps you are afraid to look... then again, maybe you are reluctant to accept it?
Measure your faith, and make it real. Hear the voice of God and know that it is more than imagination, or a misty apparition. Take what is unseen and live it out in your life. Are you ready to believe?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the ability to experience faith; thank you for allowing me to hope, and to see those things as yet unseen. Thank you Holy Father for revealing your will to me, and giving me first the faith, and then the real vision, to carry it out. Help me Father as I do those things you ask me to do, and help me Merciful Lord when I call on you in faith for miracles in my life. Let the vapor of my faith become firm in my hand, and real in my heart, as I follow your Son Jesus Christ towards your table. Give my faith substance, give me the courage to pursue it, and strengthen me in heart as I love you through it. You are my God, and the source of all my hope and belief. You are Holy beyond understanding, and yet my faith is in you and I seek you always. Give me knowledge of those things I need to accomplish your will today and I will glorify you in them, and praise you all the day. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you the reality of all our hopes and dreams.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."”
Joshua 1:9 ESV
Rich Forbes