Taking the Step of Faith (May 30)

I was reading something about faith and the author was stressing the idea of needing to trust in God and walk by faith. He cited that human nature draws us to a tendency to want to see tangible things in order to believe or take action or make big decisions. But we, as Christians, need to trust in God and be willing to have faith in things not seen. We need to believe.

The other day, I was walking Lilie around. We had stopped for a bit. When I stood her up, she stood there for awhile without me holding on to her. She balanced just fine. But then I could tell that she wanted to walk some more. Instead of taking steps, though, she looked around to find my hands, grabbed them, and then began to walk. She's still too afraid to take those first steps without holding on to something / someone. She gets along just fine grabbing on to furniture and when she's running across the room holding my fingers, I'm barely supporting her. It reminded me of the things that I had been reading about Christians needing to take the step of faith—trusting in God and letting go of other things that we want to hold on to, just because they're tangible.

Maybe Lilie doesn't know it, but God has given her, as a human, the ability to stand, walk, and run. God has offered to give us His Holy Spirit and strength to do all that He has called us to do (and say). Why is it that so often, instead of trusting in Him and taking that step of faith, we instead lean on our own understanding or something else. These things have failed us in the past, but we “know” them. They are familiar to us and we'd rather believe and trust in something that we've seen than in something that may be yet unseen. Lilie knows that holding on to my fingers will enable her to walk across the room. I may not steer quite right or go quite the right speed, but it gets the job done, for the most part. Our own understanding always seems to fall short, but we trust in it because it's what we know. It's time to let go and take that step of faith and see what our good God will do!

2 Corinthians 5:7

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

James 1:2-8

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

James 5:13-16

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Romans 4:3

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Together (May 23)

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

“God doesn't produce loners. He makes some people more sociable than others, but He has not called anyone to a lifetime of isolation. Why? Because the body of Christ is made up of many parts. They cannot operate independently any more than fingers can operate without hands or muscles can operate without nerves. An isolated soul is, in a very real sense, separated from the fellowship of Christ. He can experience the Spirit of God in some ways, but not in others. An essential means of God's Spirit working in our lives comes only in community.” - Chris Tiegreen

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

2 Corinthians 13:11

Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Ephesians 4:1-7

1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Who Are You Going to Answer (May 15)

So, the other day, I read a devotional on this topic and thought it was something that we all need to hear and think about.

Proverbs 9:4

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

Proverbs 9:16

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

If you read through the book of Proverbs, you will not only find a lot of passages about wisdom, but you will also find many parts where wisdom takes on a voice, calling the reader to seek that which is Godly and to turn away from folly. But check out the two calls that I listed above. They are the same call. One of them is wisdom calling out to those that are seeking wisdom, to come in and feast on wisdom's richness, forsaking the foolish ways. But the other, which sounds pretty much the same, is the voice of folly. We talk a lot about the call of God and how you should answer His call and obey His voice. “God is calling you,” we always say. All through Proverbs we hear the voice of Wisdom, calling us to walk in the way of understanding, fearing the Lord, and obeying His commands. But how often do we talk about that same call that comes with a different voice? How often do we consider that call of folly seems to always be echoing the call of wisdom?

“You want wisdom and understanding?” she says, “Come in here.” But she is a temptress, calling all passers-by to come in to her secret place. She doesn't have wisdom and understanding to offer; she has only confusion and distraction. It reminds me of the woman cautioned against in Proverbs 2.

Proverbs 2:10-22

10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; 13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; 15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: 16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; 17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. 18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. 20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. 22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

So—everyday you will probably hear the calls from both wisdom and folly. Which voice are you going to answer?

Give Me a Reason to Not Give Up (May 9)

This message is for those who feel like giving up and have been wrestling with the following questions: Why does it seem like the unsaved are so much better off than I am? How come my walk is so narrow and strict while others in the body of Christ seem to be at liberty to enjoy a broader walk and are free to enjoy pleasures that I am deprived of? Your cry is God just give me one reason to go on with this journey. The reason is for the salvation of souls. Those who walk narrow will have something of God revealed through them so that many souls can be snatched out of the fires of hell. Judgment is coming and God wants you to be a testimony to every lost soul. Will you live your life for the betterment of others? You are going to heaven and God wants to use you to take some souls with you.

Today we listened to a message by Carter Conlon. Listen to it here:

http://media.tscnyc.org/mp3/20100425S1.mp3

Persistence (May 2)

On Saturday, I attended a picnic in Boyce-Mayview Park. Unfamiliar with the area, I checked the location and possible routes on Google Maps. If possible, I like to avoid driving through Pittsburgh, so I modified the route a little bit to avoid some of the uglier traffic. A month or so ago, I purchased a GPS for my car so that I can refer to it if I'm ever in an area that is unfamiliar to me. Well, I stopped at Wal-mart before heading to the picnic and when I got in my car, I told the GPS to take me to the park. Well, the GPS lady wanted me to go a different route than I had already decided on in my head—and she was very persistent about it, too. Every quarter-mile, she was telling me to turn down a different road so that I could loop back and follow her original route. She wanted me to go that way. It wasn't the correct way (according to me opinion on the subject, of course), but she was dead set on me taking this other route. Well, anyway, it got me to thinking about persistence.

Picture this: God has a plan for you and a path for your life. He knows that it's the right way and wants you to follow Him and be obedient in His call. But, you keep persistently wanting to go your own way. “I want to go this way, God! I want to go this way!” He takes you a little further. “But, oh God! This other way makes so much more sense! If I turn around here, I can still loop back and go this other way! It will be quicker—more direct!” Each time, God patiently says, “No, this is the way; walk therein.” How long will we persist in our own way and refuse to go God's way?

Jeremiah 6:16

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

So... in summary...

Do

Persist in seeking God.

Persist in faith.

Persist in obeying God's call.

Persist in going God's way, no matter how “good” your own way seems.

Don't

Persist in your own way instead of God's way.

Persist in falling to the same temptations.

Persist in listening to the call to leave God's path, even for a moment.