FAITH LESSON #1

Hebrews 11:7-11
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered Him faithful who had made the promise.

When it comes to living by faith, one question continues to bug me: How do I know we're not just fooling ourselves? We all know of people who have done some pretty wacky things in the name of "faith." How do we know when we've crossed the line from faith into presumption?

By faith Noah built a boat in a dry land; Abraham left home without a destination; and as a senior citizen, Sarah prepared for a child. These three faith heroes leaped and landed safely on the other side of the chasm. What do their stories have in common? Well, God told each of them what they were to do. He promised, they obeyed.

God does occasionally call us to unusual ventures. (Try doing a Noah and building a cruise ship in the Sahara.) When we take on such tasks, family will worry, enemies will scoff, and close friends may ask if we've lost our minds. Faith ventures defy conventional thinking. But the difference between God's call and our self-delusion is His promise.

We test our faith venture. But God has already promised to provide what we're looking for.

Need food and clothing? God promises to supply (Matthew 6:25-34). Ask expectantly.

Require guidance and wisdom? God will give you what you need (Proverbs 3:5-6; James 1:5-7).

I'm in the middle of a risky career change that I feel is a calling from God. One of my greatest worries is money. But God has promised to provide. So get on with it, Sheridan, and trust God.

Sift through the many biblical references to faith and you'll find that most of them are not of the "have faith to get what we want" variety. The majority are an encouragement to have faith in Him. Christian faith is grounded in God's character, and this brings great comfort.

We could misunderstand--we might slip into presuming on His promises. But if so, into redeeming hands we will fall (Psalm 103:1-4). --Sheridan Voysey

DESTINATION POINTS

* What is God calling me to do--today, this year, and in the future?
* Is it wrong to have a "Plan B" when pursuing a faith venture?

LINKS:
How Can I Know What God Wants Me To Do?
http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0704

bottom line: God Himself is the object of our faith.

soul journey