Been spending some significant time reading and reflecting on what the Bible teaches about faith… Here are my thoughts and conclusions about “walking by faith”…
Definition of “Faith”
Faith is confidence in God… trusting His character, believing and obeying His word, embracing His promises, following His leadership, drawing upon his encouragement and strength.
Bartel’s Suggested 10 Lessons from Hebrews 11
Faith depends on the reliability of God’s character.
Faith is predicated on divine revelation.
Faith demands obedience.
Faith follows the Lord’s leadership and guidance.
Faith requires spiritual eyesight.
Faith expects God to fulfill His promises.
Faith expects and experiences miracles
Faith endures seeming contradiction and difficult circumstances
Faith requires sustained confidence and patience.
Faith does not require perfection in order for it to work
A “sluggard” … What is one anyway? When you’re reading the Bible you’ll come across the term in Proverbs quite regularly. The context always presents whoever “a sluggard” is in a bad light. Here’s how Webster’s dictionary defines the term… “A habitually lazy person.” I’ve personally looked up the passages in the Bible that describe the “sluggard” and I can tell you I don’t want to be one!
In a church I attended we had one… claimed to be a “Christian” too (a “born again” Christian yet!) Junk all over the yard, lawn never mowed, fence (or what was left over of a fence) falling down, roof covered with moss and falling in… And that was outside the house! Inside a terrible smell, a single narrow path through all the junk, filthy kitchen and bathroom, beds never made… I could go on. Able bodied guy (and his family) lived there too! Smart – had an opinion (strong opinions) about almost everything. Even a bit critical of others who disagreed with him. Couldn’t keep a job, exhibited a complete lack of initiative, didn’t pay his bills, and worst of all gave the term “Christian” a bad name.
All of this came back to mind as I read the following words in my Bible this morning during “Coffee with the Lord”…
“I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” (Proverbs 24:30–34 ESV)
How much better to live like 1 Corinthians 10:31 urges Christians to live:
“So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God!”
One more time… As a follower of Jesus – someone called a “Christian” – I never, never, never want to be called a “sluggard!” Just say’n!!!
(Oh the pic with the car in front… at one time we lived in that house and then a “sluggard” moved in!)
I wrote and posted this originally in “Coffee with the Lord” several years ago. My FB friend Charles Satterwhite reminded me of it this morning… Still good! Don’t want to be a “sluggard!” Want to be a faithful servant of the Lord!!
Can you imagine hearing God speak these words to you? …
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (From Amos 5:21-24)
Ouch! Scary eh? And all along you thought you were OK – You’ve been a religious person after all! You go to church regularly (in fact you’re an upstanding member), you give when the offering plate goes by, and compared to many people in your community you’re considered a person who exhibits two “R’s” – you’re “religious and righteous!”
Amos, the prophet, inspired by the Holy Spirit, told some self-righteous Jews that God was not impressed with their religious gatherings, their sacrifices, or their liturgy! He examined their heart and was concerned about their behavior on the other six days of the week besides their “sabbath!” – He was concerned about how they treated their “neighbor!”
Jesus told the story of two guys praying… One was a self-righteous, hyper-religious Pharisee, the other a sinful Publican (a tax-collector)… The Pharisee prayed like this: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” But the tax collector would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Then Jesus said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [right with God], rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (From Luke 18:11-14)
Gotta tell you, nothing has changed! Some of the biggest hypocrites in the world are religious people! It makes God both sick and angry! Jesus called them “whitened sepulchers” (whitewashed graves)! After reading this passage this morning during my devotions my heart personally cried out and echoed the words of Amos… Oh, Lord in MY LIFE “may justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Help me to be authentically righteous – “inside-out!”
Coffee With The Lord 