Have you ever wrestled with the question, what is faith? Or what does faith look like? Those questions are sometimes hard to wrap our minds around, yet essential to our walk with Christ. We are called to “walk by faith and not by sight,” but how in the world do you accomplish that?
Hebrews 11:1 gives a great definition of faith:
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
The word assurance means: “That which has a foundation, a setting or placing under.” So in other words, the foundation of our faith is based on things that cannot be seen. Well that is a problem, because we like to see don’t we?
Heb 11:1 in the ESV says it this way: “The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.
Furthermore, Hebrews 11:6 says, “It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.” (ESV)
Wow! Impossible to please God apart from faith! I long to please God, what about you?
I’m pretty certain most of us are struggling trying to put into perspective the news about Bro David’s cancer. What a wonderful job he did Sunday to help walk us through the journey that he has been on. If you’ve not seen it, you can check it out here. I’m so grateful for his transparency and vulnerability and the hope that he shared with us not because of the news he received, but because his faith is the firm foundation under everything.
I’ve wrestled just like you, and yesterday a dear friend of mine who herself has battled cancer sent me a verse of scripture that God had used to encourage her. 2 Cor 1:11 helped her understand the power of God’s people praying and His grace to deliver for His glory! Immediately I looked up the verse! Then I backtracked and looked at the verses that surrounded v.11 and read them in several different translations. The Message helped articulate this passage in a way I could really understand, and I just sat with my mouth wide open as I read it!
We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he’ll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation—I don’t want you in the dark about that either. I can see your faces even now, lifted in praise for God’s deliverance of us, a rescue in which your prayers played such a crucial part. 2 Cor 1:8-11
Friends, God is in the business of rescuing and we are all about joining Him in that process! Here are some ways:
Did you see in that verse that the prayers of God’s people played a crucial part in their rescue?
- We have an important job to do… PRAY!
- Please pray for Bro David and his family. And when you pray, pray BELIEVING! James 1:6-8 says, “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
- Share the gospel with people who are perishing!
- Give on Easter Sunday to the special RESCUE offering to fund specific projects within the WRECKED Ministry Plan, our initiative to radically reach out to the world in 2013 – locally, nationally and globally. Find out more information here.
Bro David challenged us on Sunday to GO FOR IT! Based on the firm foundation of our faith, let’s be a part of the rescue! I’m in, what about you?
God is so good to give us so much evidence of his love for us, and clarity about what he wants from us!
fun fact: lhkidz are doing a “summer of faith” study this summer – God has prepared our church body for such a time as this (incidentally, we are studying Esther this weekend and our main point is ‘trust God even when it doesn’t make sense’) Amazing love.