Dealing with Change: Faith
Monday— And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6
“I need to be able to understand God before I commit my whole life to Him,” said Professor Hill. “My IQ is 140 and I’ve memorized much of the Bible, so you see why I must comprehend it all before I can become a Christian.” His teaching assistant Greg considered him for a moment, then said, “What if I want to go to London by train?” he asked. “I like trains and want to take one overseas.” Professor Hill recoiled. “That’s preposterous, son,” he said. “Trains can take you only so far. If you wish to go to London, you need another means of transportation.”
Exactly! Professor Hill just answered his own objections without realizing it. Intellect is great, so God put much in creation and His word to help us understand who He is. But to connect with Him personally, we need another means of transportation. He calls it faith. Faith chooses to override our understanding and believe anyway. We exercise faith when we climb a ladder, drive down the highway, or board a plane. We assume the outcome based on evidence and past experience. God has provided enough evidence to earn our faith if we’ll look for it.
Challenge: The evidence for God is all around us if we have eyes to see it and a heart to seek Him.
Prayer: Father, sometimes faith is a struggle. Open my eyes to see the evidences you provide, like nature and history. Thank you for rewarding my search with allowing me to find you (Jer. 29:13). In Jesus’ name, amen.
----------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday— So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17
“I’ve always been a Christian,” said Mark, “I’ve just never lived it.” Sally tossed a paperclip at him. “Really? So what makes you think you’re a Christian?” she asked. “I’ve heard about your parties.” Mark chuckled. “Hey, I’m sober enough to go to church sometimes,” he said. “Even bring a babe or two with me when they spend the night.” Sally held out her phone. “Check out this verse in James on my Bible app,” she said. Mark read it and lifted an eyebrow. “Whoa,” he said. “Is that saying just believing in God and Jesus and all that stuff is not enough?”
Maybe not, Mark. James sounds a warning to people relying on past religious activities to make them right with God, when their lives are still world-centered. Mental agreement with the facts about Jesus is not the kind of faith that saves us. Real faith changes us on the inside so that our actions, words, and values also change. No change? No faith. Jesus called it “fruit.” If our fruit is bad, our heart is too. Actions and attitudes prove whether faith is real.
Challenge: Does the way you live validate the faith you claim to have?
Prayer: Father, I believe in you and your Son. But is it the saving kind of faith? Has it changed me from the inside out? I want my actions to validate my claim to know you. Help me bear good fruit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
-----------------------------------------------------
Wednesday— You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. James 2:19
An old suspension bridge, with a few planks missing, sways in the wind over a vast canyon. Far below, a rushing river tumbles over jagged boulders. You stand beside the bridge’s designer on the banks of the canyon. He holds the plans in his hand and assures you the bridge is safe. Because of his stellar reputation, you may heartily agree. You may venture a step or two onto its surface, and even tell others that the bridge is solid. But that’s not faith.
Faith is stepping onto the bridge and walking to the point there’s no turning back. When you’ve placed your whole life in the hands of the architect, that is faith. Just believing there is a God, acknowledging that Jesus is most likely His son, and going to church, is not saving faith. Even Satan believes that. He knows for sure who God is and what Jesus did. So what’s the difference? Faith that saves us bows to Jesus as Lord and walks onto the bridge.
Challenge: Even Satan believes the Bible and the facts about God. How is your faith different from his?
Prayer: Lord, I want to be sure that my faith is more than mental agreement, it’s a life transfer. Jesus, be Lord of my life decisions. I step onto your bridge and entrust you with my future. There’s no turning back. Amen.
----------------------------------------------------------
Thursday—So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
“But I waaaaant it!’ screamed three-year-old Brantley. Wails and sobs followed, as his mother dragged him kicking and screaming from the store. Brantley’s dad met them in the parking lot. “What’s wrong with him?” he asked. His mother sighed. “He saw a picture of a dinosaur and insisted we get one. I couldn’t get him to understand it wasn’t a real dinosaur and even if it was, it wouldn’t make him happy. It would eat him.”
“I waaant it!” we cry to God. We’ve fixed our eyes on some earthly goal and insist we can’t be happy without it. Maybe it’s a romance, a possession, or a career goal, but we are convinced we need it and God should give it to us. Our discontent is not from lack of blessing, but from wrong focus. How did Paul remain content when the persecutions kept coming? His eyes were not fixed on what was seen and temporary: early release, better food, or public vindication. He focused by faith on the unseen rewards waiting for him in the presence of Jesus. He taught us how to pursue, by faith, those unseen things will last much longer than a dinosaur.
Challenge: We can regulate contentment by where we fix our eyes: seen and temporary or unseen and eternal.
Prayer: Father, show me the source of my discontentment. Am I too focused on the seen and temporary? Help me readjust my gaze to pursue, by faith, what is unseen and eternal. In Jesus’ name, amen.
---------------------------------------------------------
Friday— These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Hebrews 11:13
Hebrews chapter 11 is often called the “Hall of Fame” or the “faith chapter.” It lists many old-time saints who believed what God had promised, even though they died without it. That’s living by faith (Rom. 1:17). It’s confusing, because we’re told that faith gets us what we want. Doesn’t faith visualize a destiny, declare it to be so, or write its own ticket with God? Then why did all those faithful people die without receiving what they asked for?
The answer is buried in the same chapter. Each had accepted that this world was not their home. In spite of hoping for earthly fulfillment, they knew their time on earth was not the end of the story. Verse 16 says, “They were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” So we can have faith for healing, for prosperity, for family—but must join the saints of old in remembering this world is not the end. All God’s promises are fulfilled in that city where faith becomes sight.
Challenge: Biblical faith sets its sights on a better, future fulfillment, even if earthly answers never come.
Prayer: Father, thank you for listing these people in the Bible who trusted you but never saw all your promises come true. Help me keep believing by faith that my ultimate fulfillment will come in your time. Amen.
