Posted on May 16, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters
The life of a believer in Jesus Christ is not acting in blind faith, hoping something good might happen…. No! The life of a believer in Jesus Christ is one that has ‘put off’ or ‘crucified’ their own will and desire because of what is known to be true and fantastic about Christ and the Life He wants you to have. Paul writes, “For we walk by faith, not by sight… that is living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises” (2 Cor 5:7). We can be this confident and courageous because God is at work in all aspects of our lives… even the ones we describe as bad, frustrating, and evil. In each circumstance, He is preparing us for His end game of an eternity abiding with Him. As we are ‘at home’ or content in this life, knowing God is doing all He has promised, we live by faith in His Word and not by what we see or is temporal. We can live this way because, “in the gospel, the righteousness (or all that is Good) of God is revealed, both springing from faith (in what is true) and leading to faith [disclosed in a way that awakens more faith]. As it is written and forever remains written, ‘the just (those who abide in Christ) shall live by Faith’” (Romans 1:17). To live by faith is to choose to rest or abide in God’s revealed Word. It is revealed through His creations magnificent design and through His written Word, or the Gospel. As we let go of our will and wanting everything to fit our thinking, and grasp hold of the truth that is revealed to us, our faith grows stronger and we begin to courageously walk with confidence. Isaiah points this out when he writes, “But those who wait for the LORD (those who expect, look for, and hope in Him) Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings… and rise up close to God like eagles rising toward the sun; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired” (Isaiah 40:31 AMP).
If this does not describe the life you now live, it is because you have chosen to ‘not abide’ or ‘rest in’ Gods revealed truth and way. Every word and promise is available to ALL men, BUT to avail yourself to all their fantastic benefits you must choose to receive them. This requires you to put off your will and desires, and put on… by faith, what is revealed and true in Jesus the Christ.
Jesus said,
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in Me (by their own choice) he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
(John 15:5-7)
The life God has for you is fantastic and it is available to all who walk by faith and not by sight. I pray that you step forward by faith into all God has prepared for you, just as Israel did at the Jordon River, and come to know the fulfillment of all God’s promises in your life.
Choose wisely….
Praying for you
Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, grandfather, Pastor with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is the Associate Pastor of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church. He is the author of two devotional books, “From a Chair by the Window.” And “#PrayerWinsThe Day”.
Think About This: “It is a fundamental truth that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be cleansed.” – Elder Richard G. Scott
The Daily Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 18, Psalm 26, 40, 58, 61. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;” – Hebrews 1:1-2
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
