A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (August 2, 2018)
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
Jesus spent a good bit of his time trying to teach faith to his disciples and to also illustrate it. You might say, but Jesus was the Son of God and it was easy for Him. Was it really? He came to earth as the Son of Man and was limited just like everyone one of us. He repeatedly said he did not do anything or say anything the He did not see the Father do or hear the Father say. That takes faith!
Feeding the five thousand and surviving a stormy trip are two such lessons in faith:
And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. (Matthew 14:15-20)
Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him. And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. (Luke 8:22-26)
Here are just a few lessons we can learn from these two episodes about walking in faith with the Lord. 1. He will always give you the main objective (give them to eat/go to the other side) but He will never tell you the entire process. 2. You have to take one step of faith at a time before the next step is revealed. 3. Obstacles (such as lack and storms) will always have to be overcome. 4. He will always be with you (in your boat). 5. The end result is always worth it all.
Abraham is often referred to as the “Father of Faith”. Listen to how the author of Hebrews described Abraham’s walk with God:
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10)
Did you hear that? God did not tell Abraham where he was going. He just told him to go. He told him to gather his family and leave his homeland. That takes faith!!!
