Faith Like Abraham
Funny how we have faith in our car’s brakes to stop us, a 187,000 pound plane to fly us, a cruise ship not to drown us, faith in Jesus to save us, but generally not enough faith to trust Him to take care of our daily needs! Abraham, the father of faith, believed in God’s promises to him. God told him to move, he moved. Told him he and Sara would have a son in their old age, no problem. Even when God told him to sacrifice that long awaited son, Abraham had faith God would still fulfill His promises. Strong on the big points, but not so on the smaller ones. Twice he lied about Sara being his wife for fear of what might be done to him. He didn’t think God would take care of His chosen couple? When the son didn’t arrive on their expected timetable, he allowed Sara’s handmaiden to bear him a son, and we all know what a mess that turned out to be. The father of faith faltered, just like us! It is so easy to have faith in the big things, but hard to believe He’ll take care of the little daily ones, but He will, if we ask Him. The pressures from the world seem to goad us to try and work things out for ourselves. It isn’t always easy but the answer always is, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” We do have faith like Abraham, and He will be with us, just like Abraham, every step of the way, fulfilling His promises!
People are so gullible, so easily led astray. Why do you think Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd and we as His sheep? Sheep aren’t the brightest bulbs in the animal kingdom. Definitely the right analogy there.That was Paul’s problem in his letter to the Galatians, they had been easily led astray or as he put it, “who has bewitched you?” They had allowed themsel
It’s not always easy being a Christian. If you are a Christian, you are Christ’s ambassador on earth. On earth, an ambassador is the highest ranking diplomatic representative of one country to another. That is a heavy responsibility. People are watching every move you make, how you act, re-act, what comes out of your mouth, but sometimes, you want to say what you’re really thinking or want to do s
Paul’s rebuke of Peter for his hypocritical actions in Antioch toward the Gentile Christians there should be a resounding gong to the Church throughout the ages! We are the Church of Jesus Christ. He is the head of the Church. He died so that all who choose to accept Him would be saved. He died for Africans and Americans, Arabs and Asians, Europeans and Australians. He died for men and women, the righteous, the sinners, He died for you! If anyone acc
Can you imagine what was going through James and Peter’s minds when Paul first came to meet them in Jerusalem? It had been over three years since Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus, but I’m sure they looked upon him with great apprehension. They could see the man that persecuted Christian’s, dragged them from their homes, threw them into prison, and happily watched as Stephen was stoned, but they couldn’t see his heart. So many children look up to athletes as role models because of their muscular bodies and athletic skill without knowing what’s in their heart. Too many adults blindly follow whatever so called celebrities say because of their beauty and acting talent, not caring what is in their hearts! Aren’t you glad God isn’t that way? He doesn’t care how good you look on the outside, how good your actions and benevolence appears to others, He cares about your heart. Where would we all be if He didn’t? 1 Sam 16:7 says it all. “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” The last thing the Apostles saw in Paul was a world changing evangelist, but that didn’t matter because God did! What does He see in you?
Freedom is a precious thing, one too many Americans take for granted and too many politicians are playing with. Living in New Hampshire for many years, I readily embraced the state’s motto “Live Free or Die.” It astounds me why that offends some people! The most precious freedom we enjoy is our religious freedom and this one the enemy would love to destroy. As soon as Paul completed his missionary journeys, the enemy sent in false teachers, wolves in sheep’s clothing, trying to confuse and bring the people back into the bondage of the law, the very thing Jesus freed them from. In Jesus we are not bound to follow over 600 burdensome laws. We are told to obey 10 common sense Commandments that are for our own benefit. We are not bound to follow any man-made rites or rituals. We are free to worship with our own hearts, hearts that are surrendered to Him, forgiven by Him, freed by Him. As Jesus nailed them to the cross, we are free from sin, not free to be able to sin, but from the bondage of sin. As always, you can listen to pastors, priests, evangelists, laymen, whoever, but always check the Bible against what they say. God will speak to your heart through His Word and that’s the word counts!