Messages from Above
In what are you placing your faith? This study will discuss the impact of faith on your life.
“Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1).
When I purchased the car last year, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to reading the manual…..nobody does. In fact they say that the automobile handbook is the most unread book. I did notice some reference to “Engine Diagnostics Notification,” but thought nothing of it.
Then last week, on a Sunday afternoon, I got an e-mail telling me that all four of my tires were below acceptable pressure and it told me the pressure in each tire. I sort of sat there and stared at the monitor trying to figure it all out. How could my tire pressure be beamed up so a satellite high above that would in turn send me this e-mail? I got another e-mail telling me that I needed an oil change.
I was perplexed, as it was beyond my ability to understand, but I have learned over the years that I don’t necessarily have to understand how something works in order to participate in its value. I still don’t understand how the Internet works when I communicate almost instantly with someone on the other side of the world, but that doesn’t stop me from sending and receiving dozens of e-mails each day.
Faith in God is like that. I don’t have all the answers and I don’t understand everything, but I have faith in God as much as I have faith that while the dawn is still dark, the sun will rise at precisely the right time.
Having faith is not like having a wish list of things we would like to see happen. No, faith, as used in the Biblical sense is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists. Faith is an unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence.
We drive our cars, purchase our food and do all sorts of things on the faith that they will work and not be harmful to us. Yet, why is it that many people use the excuse that they do not have proof of Christianity and therefore cannot embrace it? Through Jesus, we have assurance, guarantee and confidence.
How much of what we do is really motivated by an implicit trust in God’s Word? This is how we can tell whether we are living in faith. God tells us to walk by faith and not by sight and have faith in Him.
Lord God, increase my faith in You today. Amen.
Questions: How do we demonstrate our faith in God to others? How much of what we do is really motivated by an implicit trust in God’s Word?
About the Author John Grant
Daily audio podcast: Hear today’s daily devotional, Messages from Above, read aloud, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
The devotional I requested to be forwarded to me was sent today, April 25, 2009.
Today’s devotional touched my heart. I meant to print, to save to read again, and accidentally deleted. Is it possible for you to forward today’s message to me again?
Thank you, very much.
Linda Fann
thank you for this devotional. i am a little bit behind reading my email but just wanted you to know i enjoyed reading this very much
thank you John for this devotional. as I can’t speak for anyone else, for me, I do my best to treat others as I would want to be treated no matter the circumstances. and since coming to Christ, my life has come full circle to whom the Lord created, the real me. my old nature smothered me to near death until I accepted Christ as my Savior. my demeanor has come full circle and when asked what the secret is, I say, ”He is no secret, He is my Savior, the Lord our God”. in answer to your second question: ”how much of what we do is really motivated by the implicit trust in God’s Word?”—-I would pray that all of it is, but that’s not always necessarily so.
Testing to see if I can post. Got suspicious e-mail from “blogadmin@thrustmedia.” My e-mail account is dedicated to this devotional only. TECH SUPPORT NEEDS TO SEE THIS; PLEASE CONTACT ME.