03/05/2016
Today I am going to share an email with you that I wrote several years ago (on March 5, 2016). I wrote it to a very dear friend, and brother in Christ, with whom I was reading a devotional book each day. I wrote this daily message just before I started sharing my devotionals beyond family and a few very close friends. Then, as he often did, my friend Chuck wrote me a note in return, and I am almost reluctantly sharing it with you because of its personal nature. However, it demonstrates the power of our testimony, and the impact it has on those around us… believers and unbelievers alike.
“The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.”
Luke 8:38-39 ESV
Chuck,
I had a discussion with my youngest son last night regarding the very subject of our devotional message today... Believe without a doubt. In his youthfulness my son asked me how he could believe without entertaining thoughts of doubt, and that was a very difficult question to answer because he was looking to prove the existence of God as one would prove the existence of some scientific principle. When we approach faith there has to be a point at which we must say "I believe" and in the increase of faith that comes at that moment... Leave doubt behind.
I breathe air with every breath I take, and when I let go of an apple I know that it will fall to the ground. Air and gravity are both things that I can't see, yet as I watch the leaves move in the trees, or see an egg crack as it hits the floor, I know these things exist. As we live with the evidence that these things are real, there comes a point at which we no longer have doubt in their existence. The same is true with faith in God and his Word.
When we are young in Christ, we find ourselves enthralled with watching His apples fall and leaves blow, but as our faith increases and trust in Him grows, we come to a point where we believe without a doubt that He is moving the leaves and His force propels the apple... At that moment our faith, which has been the size of a mustard seed, takes root and flourishes, and Jesus answers the following request of His apostles.
“And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine [mulberry] tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.”
Luke 17:5-6 KJV
This morning I read Luke chapter 17 (origin of our previous bible verse) and in doing so placed myself at the feet of Christ as He spoke to His apostles. His word thrilled me as though I were hearing it again for the very first time and it suddenly occurred to me that as I was reading there was no doubt in my mind that I was reading the words of Jesus Christ... No doubt in either their origin or their truth. My walk with God had matured much and I had traveled a long way.
This is how we believe without doubt; we see His movement in everything around us, trust that His word is truth, and have faith that He is good and the same always. If we do this then the doubts fall away, our trust in His presence goes without question, our faith explodes into bloom, and Jesus becomes real in our lives and in every step along the way which we travel.
Now to communicate this to my son today, and to have him understand that just as he trusts in the fact that I love him, he should also trust that God is ever present and loves him more.
A few days later Chuck Savage wrote this to me in return:
Rich,
Thanks so much for your words all week. I took the past week and cut myself off from all technology except for things I needed to do for work. In past years, I have gone through the season of Lent without taking the time to reflect before we reach Easter. One of my biggest hurdles is allowing things, like my cell phone, to get in the way of quality time with family and friends. It feels great to have it back in my hands this morning.
As I write my thoughts to you, I'm sitting in the church prayer room reflecting on the week. Your thoughts from this past week are awesome. As I read your thoughts from each day, it is wonderful to sit and meditate on each day. Thanks, as always, for the God inspired words that you share with me each day.
Moving to today's devotion, it was great to hear the conversation with your youngest son. Your words take me back to a conversation I had with my son about a year ago. The first part began at home. He and I were having a dialogue on how I came to truly believe that God was there in both the good and bad times. As I shared different rough times in my life, he listened but most of it just passed over his head. After some reflection, he explained that he could understand what I was saying but that he had not had any difficult times and thus was still on the fence regarding belief and trust in God. About a month later, he tore his MCL at basketball practice. We had to go to see an orthopedic doctor to have a clearer picture as to the extent of his injury. After learning that it was a tear to his MCL, as we finished the appointment and were walking to the car to go home his mood began to change. After helping him into the passenger side, I could see his eyes becoming watery. When I got into the driver's seat, he looked at me with tears in his eyes and said "I'm not going to be able to play basketball this year, am I" I reached over and put my arms around him as the tears began to flow even more. As he sobbed, he then said "Dad, I can now understand what you were saying to me. Will you please pray with me right now?" There were so many things that happened in that moment, as Almighty God wrapped his arms around both of us.
As I reflected on your words this morning on the conversation with your son, I want to thank you for bringing that memory back to me. Like you, I continue to become more mature each day. As stated in our devotion, hindrances to prayer are removed by trust with faith following close behind. As we continue the ebb and flow of our journey, I am so thankful that the Lord placed you in my life! I think I've shared this before, but when I read your words each week, I feel like Timothy must have felt as Paul wrote letters to him during his travels. I hope that all is going well with you and your family. Have a blessed day and thanks for being one of the true "rocks" in my life!!
As you read Chuck’s note just now did you see how we edified one another by telling our stories of faith? When in conversation with others do you share your own stories and walk of faith with them? I pray you do, and that others feel safe in sharing theirs with you.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being in our lives, and for the ability to share the experiences we have together with others. Thank you for how the things you do with us serve to lift up and edify those we tell them to. Help us Father to have the courage to communicate our personal moments with you. Help us to lift the basket from atop the lamp of our testimony, and to open up our hearts and lives of faith to others. The life of Jesus was opened to us through His gospel, and it saved, and changed, not only us, but the world; help us to join Him by telling our own stories of having you in our lives. Even if we don’t see the impact they are having ourselves, give us faith in the power they carry, and how they transform the lives of those around us. Holy, Holy, Holy are you our God who was, and is, and is to come, and amazing are the miracles and stories you have told, you are currently telling, and will forever create in our lives with you. Live in us as you live in Jesus and he lives in you, and as walk with us always, love us in so many amazing ways. By retelling the stories of our times together let them glorify you without end, and may they win many souls to you, and believers for your kingdom. Let our stories include the coming of Jesus, the sound of eternal praise, and of the eternal majesty that is you. Let the book of our lives have no beginning, nor end, and be as eternal as you are eternal. Let our stories of faith be told from before the foundations of creation and in you, and Jesus forevermore. Amen
Rich Forbes