And Lastly, Faith

Romans 4:16-21  So the promise is received by faith.  It is given as a free gift.  And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.  That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, "I have made you the father of many nations."  This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping--believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, "That's how many descendants you will have!"  And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead--and so was Sarah's womb.  Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise.  In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.  he was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.

vs 17,18  Belief releases the power of God in facing challenging circumstances.

vs 20, 21  When tempted by unbelief, know God can and will do what He promises.  Choose to believe especially that we are united with Jesus through His death, burial and resurrection.

When difficulties arise we must remember how much God loves us.  Even when circumstances are painful we can be confident that we are held in the capable and caring hands of our heavenly Father.

Just "TRUST GOD."

Secondhand faith:  After Joshua sent the people away, each of the tribes left to take possession of the land allotted to them.  And the Israelites served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and the leaders who outlived him--those who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel. Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110.  They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.  After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.  The Israelites did evil in the Lord's sight and served the images of Baal.  They abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after others gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them.  And they angered the Lord.

Personalized faith:  Joshua 1:8  Study this Book of Instruction continually.  Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.  Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

How:  Know God's Word, ponder on it, let it become a deep part of our life, live it, make it our own.

There is no second hand faith.  Find our what God says in His Word, personalize it so that yours is a fresh, first hand faith.

From me:

Faith is challenging.  Sometimes it seems almost impossible to believe anything good can or will happen.  My difficulty lies in believing that God is concerned for or working out good in my life when all the little stuff piles up.  That is my challenge.  What's yours?  I aspire to faith such as Abraham....when all looks dead, still believing.  Step by step, choice by choice, I will get there. And so will you if you make faith your choice.  There are circumstances in all our lives that require us to just trust.  We want to fix it ourselves, worry the problem to death....like bulls in china shops were flail this way and that instead of just going forward, resting in the Lord.  How much peace do we forfeit by doing that.  I know when I'm on my hundredth spill for the day and there still a to do list a mile high to accomplish before work, I lose my faith that God is there, caring for and loving me, working everything for good..  I don't trust His design for my time.  Many situations for many people are extremely serious and heartbreaking.  But He's there in the daily complications as well as the life shaking, life changing hardships.  And God is good.  Through them all God is good.  And God does good and has good plans for us.  Trust.  Just trust!

Lord help up.  We struggle with this faith thing.  You have planted a seed in each of us.  But it is our job to nurture it by choice.  Lord, give us hearts to believe, minds set on choosing trust over unbelief. Increase our faith.