The Cost of Faith

FaithWalkDaily October 10, 2008

Acts 14:22
...strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

Paul and Barnabas covered a lot of ground together, preaching in synagogues from town to town at great risk to themselves. Peter had already been thrown in prison for preaching salvation through faith in Jesus. Paul had been stoned so severely the Jews who'd done it thought he was dead and dragged him outside the city. There was a great price to pay for preaching Jesus.

What does that mean to us? It's not just about carrying the gospel, although that is certainly the plan for each of us. If we go back to the OT Scriptures, we see that it's all about living for God. And tons of failures along the way. I don't know about you, but it sure does ease my mind to know David didn't do life perfectly, Moses didn't do life perfectly, Ruth and Esther had their moments and Mary Magdalene had 7 demons cast out of her. Do you suppose she might have had a few struggles in life even after she was saved? Come on, none of us is perfect, so let's relax a little. But not too much.

Salvation, being forgiven for our sins and accepting the atoning death of Jesus, is not a ticket to ride. It's only the cash to buy the ticket. Now what we do with that cash is very important. We can waste it on foolish things so we don't get to ride at all and have to traverse that mountain on foot, or we can use it to honor and glorify God for a cruise on the Good Ship Lollipop.

Let me speak English. Life is as hard as we make it. God gave us the manual for living. If we read and abide by it, chances are it will be fairly smooth sailing, with a few storms to weather along the way, but excellent equipment to get us through with relative ease. If on the other hand, we choose to try it our own way, rebelling against God's wisdom, we're going to run out of resources before we run out of road, on our own and without a compass.

Will the gates of heaven still open when we get there? Probably. I don't presume to have all the answers by a long shot. But I'm pretty sure the road will be a whole lot easier if we choose to seek, listen and follow God's plans. Job's life is the perfect example. He did everything right, honored God, walked in faith. God let Satan take everything from him. Did he turn away from God? No. Was he hurt and angry? Yeah. But he remained faithful despite it all and God rewarded him with more than he lost for his faithfulness. Yes he had a rough spot but God smoothed it all out.

I know if my life is miserable, it's only because I chose to do things my way. We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God, that's a given. So why make it harder than we must?

There's a story about the refiner's fire that sums it up.

As the woman watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." (Malachi 3:3)

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy - when I see my image in it."

We should rejoice to be in that refiner's fire. It hurts. It's hot. But in the end, God has stamped His image on us, so we can shine for Him.

Heavenly Father, wow. You are amazing and we are stupid. Forgive us for wanting to do things our own way, for choosing the rugged mountain rather than accepting your gliding gondola to the top. We gladly accept Your refining fire, to shape us, purify us, make us gleam for You. Thank You for Your patience with us while we stumble in the dark. Thank You for lighting the way back to You. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Harder Than I Thought

FaithWalkDaily September 26, 2008

2 Cor 11:28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. NIV Please read all of chapter 11.

I'm a writer by nature. Writing comes with little effort for me. I find it easier to write than to talk. That's not to say I really love writing, more that I'm driven. Most of the time I write when I feel like it, I'm compelled. I'm not forced to do this.

I decided to share my thoughts in writing with the world, whoever should chance to read them. It seemed that perhaps the Holy Spirit had promted this venture and if that's the case, it's not about what I want to do but what I must do. And I decided at the time that I should blog daily for continuity, create a day to day devotional using Scripture. I've always got a fresh flow of thoughts pouring out of my head and I love God's word so it seemed at the time it would be easy. It isn't. A commitment to anything requires obedience. Having already missed a number of days, I always feel badly that I've failed to stay on track.

As I was reading 2 Corinthians 11 just now and reflecting on the many times Paul talks about his struggles, I realize we're not so very different. Did he really love spending all that time writing to the churches (with a quill pen and ink, not a fancy computer keyboard?) Or visiting them to preach (walking, taking long tumultuous trips in sailing ships, perhaps a few uncomfortable camel and donkey rides along the way?) It probably seemed like great fun in the beginning. Gee, I'll get to travel, see new places, make new friends...

...Be locked up in prison for the faith...

When we're asked to do something, or are told by our boss to get a job done, we do it for them. But when the Holy Spirit asks you to do something, it's usually much harder and requires a deep level of self discipline. I'm so grateful to read of Paul's struggles and perseverence. I'm not alone! No matter how weary or discouraged I become, I can always get back on the road.

What does Holy Spirit prompt you to do that you've been procrastinating or ignoring? Be still, listen to that voice in your heart. God will speak to you if you're willing to listen. Ask Him, by the power of Jesus in you, for the strength and boldness to be obedient.

Are we daily concerned for the body of Christ? Are we moving according to God's Spirit in those concerns?

Heavenly Father, we are humbled as always, by Your power and presence. You are amazing God - the One who created everything in existence also cares for every person on earth who has not heard the gospel. Your word tells us it's not Your desire that any should perish but for all to have the knowledge of Your saving grace. You are patient beyond measure to wait until we get off our laurels and go according to Your will. Lord, would we be especially attentive today to hear Your voice. Would You grant us the strength and boldness to go as prompted, to utter Your words, to glorify You. May we be the light of Jesus today in this dark world. In His precious name we pray, amen.

Can You Imagine Heaven?

FaithWalkDaily September 25, 2008

~ Rev 21:10-27
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement, which the angel was using. 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.

22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. NIV

No matter what we suffer here on earth, and it will get worse for each of us as we come into old age and the body's functions decline, we have hope and a future as promised in Jeremiah 29:11. I'm so longing for heaven and can't even begin to imagine how marvelous it will be. There is nothing to cling to here on earth but His every word! The only thing that will bring us joy in the midst of the difficulties here is the hope we have in heaven.

It becomes clearer each day as I draw closer to my Savior, that my finances, home, car, clothes, and all that I fret about on a daily basis are like dust in the wind. Or, as Soloman put it, "there is nothing new under the sun." None of it matters.

We can chase after the things of this world until we're exhausted, and how foolish we are! We cannot even begin to imagine the treasures that await us in heaven. And we think in terms of earthly time while we're here. Whether we have 20, 50 or 100 years on earth, that time is but a breath in eternity and eternity is what we're promised! Do you get that? Can you possibly grasp that the riches of heaven are our inheritance for all time and eternity?

So why do we seek the rags of earth when we could be enlarging the kingdom of heaven for the sake of mankind and God's glory? We only have a moment - let's not waste it!

Heavenly Father, it's so hard for us to get our minds around Your magnificance, and what You have in store for us. We're just too simple. But we can trust in Your word and Your promises. Thank You for giving us just a taste of what's ahead so we can refocus on Jesus and redouble our efforts to bring more lost souls into Your kingdom to share these delights eternally with You. May we do all we do for Your glory alone. In Jesus' name, amen.