One a Day Word

Trust (Faith in Action)

September 23, 2009

Hebrews 11:1-2 KJV

(1)  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

(2)  For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV

(6)  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.

Romans 1:17 KJV

(17)  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

As we continue our series on faith we now leave the expressions of Christian faith and move on with acts of faith in God. Most recall the story of Abraham when God commanded him to leave his home land and journey to a place that God would lead him, or when God asked Abraham to offer his son Isaac. Both were tremendous acts of faith, or faith in action by trusting God. Abraham learned of God’s great provision in God sparing the life of Abraham’s son.  Thus we can agree Abraham’s faith was pleasing to God.

Consider the widow of Zarephath who was instructed by the Lord to offer the first portion of her last bit of bread to the prophet Elijah. Her willingness to put her faith in action and trust God brought a provision of meal and oil during a drought driven era. Of all the wealthy and great men in Sidon God choose a poor widow in need to sustain the prophet, and by her faith she obtained a good report.

The Bible is full of stories like these, consider Daniel and his friends who refused to eat from the kings table, or David when he stood face to face with Goliath while the entire army of Israel trembled in fear.

Trusting God for small things especially in the good times seems easy, but trusting in God in the challenging times and in the arena of the unseen is often difficult. When our faith moves beyond the ordinary into the extraordinary we can say with Job, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Through these examples we are convinced, “the just live by faith.”

Today trust God in something unseen, having faith in God will take us places in our Christian faith we’ve possibly never been.