Month: September 2019

[Jesus said] “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”
Luke 12:32

Christian Faith Grows Through Challenges

Daily Devotion – September 3, 2019

Devotion based on Luke 12:32

See series: Devotions

What requires greater faith: walking on a tightrope extended one inch above your backyard or on one suspended over the Grand Canyon’s widest and deepest chasm?

The answer is obvious. There’s not much risk involved if the worst that can happen is some grass stains on your new white socks. But a head-first tumble into the rocky bottoms would ensure your speedy death.

It’s safe to say that we all want life to be easy and relatively risk-free, like that backyard scamper across a low-hanging tightrope. But often we feel suspended high above the Grand Canyon without a net, wondering whether our next step will be our last. At those times it’s natural to ask, “Where is God? Why is he allowing me to face these challenges and feel these anxieties?”

The irony is that those challenges are no accident; they’re divinely purposeful. When Jesus’ disciples once feared for their lives on a boat in the midst of a ferocious storm, Jesus lay sleeping in the stern. They wondered aloud whether Jesus would do anything to help them, but when the Master finally woke up, he wondered aloud why they were so afraid. At the height of their anxiety, Jesus showed his power by silencing the winds and waves, prompting them to ask, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:23-27).

What we sometimes fail to appreciate is that Christian faith is not normally conceived and nurtured in the soft, green fields of life. Growth requires unforeseen visits to the rocky and treacherous desert, where we are compelled to recognize that there is no one to help—except Jesus, that is. Only then we see his power and love in a way that had previously been unrecognized, and Christian faith grows.

Yes, Jesus allows—even sends—challenges into our lives, not because he loves us a little but because he loves us much. He knows best how Christian faith grows best. It grows through challenges.

But with those challenges, he also sends his saving promise, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

Prayer:
Jesus, help me endure the challenges you send, as I cling forever to your saving promises. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1

Christian Faith Is Not Blind

Daily Devotion – September 2, 2019

Devotion based on Hebrews 11:1

See series: Devotions

How would you describe faith? Many people think faith requires you to close your eyes tightly and to step into the abyss without any idea of what may happen. You cross your fingers and hope for the best.

When trouble strikes, someone might say to you with the best of intentions, “You just have to have faith.”

There’s just one problem. You need to ask, “Faith in what, in whom?” Too often the response is, “You need to have faith in yourself.”

But that poses an even bigger problem because we have so little control over what happens, and no one can predict the future. If we could, we would have avoided the trouble in the first place! Putting faith in ourselves is true blindness, silliness.

The Christian faith is different. It’s not blind because it’s not based on thin air. It’s based on real facts, on a real person who did and does real things—even impossible things.

Some people think Christians are silly. “You actually believe that Jesus Christ walked on water?” they ask with a smirk. “You actually believe he raised people from the dead, and that he rose from the dead himself?” they wonder.

Of course, Christians do. After all, why would they want to put their faith in someone who cannot walk on water? What good reason would they have to trust someone who could not conquer death?

The Christian faith is not wishful thinking. It’s raw confidence based on the knowledge that the Christ in whom Christians put their hope foresees all things and controls them—yes, even evil and trouble—for the eternal good of his people (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). It’s a certain expectation and assurance that in the end, Jesus alone saves now and forever.

Prayer:
Jesus, help me place my confidence in you alone for all things. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1

Live by Faith

Daily Devotion – September 1, 2019

Devotion based on Hebrews 11:1

See series: Devotions

Are you an optimistic person? Or do you live each day expecting a bunch of problems? Maybe your life has been difficult, and you have chosen to cope by expecting more troubles. Maybe you are more comfortable calling yourself a realistic person. The truth is, God promises many things in his Word, but an easy life is not one of them.

That is why it is important to understand what it means to live by faith. A good place in the Bible to read about living by faith is in the book of Hebrews chapter 11. This chapter gives a snapshot of historical figures who trusted in God’s promises. Each of them endured some very scary times by trusting that God had something much better in store for them. Each of them knew that this earth was not their real home. They were looking ahead to a much better place. They were looking forward to living forever with God because he promised to send them a Savior.

The fascinating thing about the people listed in Hebrews chapter 11 is that all of them died before their Savior, Jesus came down to earth to pay for their sins. Did this mean they missed out on God’s promise? Absolutely not! They simply took God at his word. They trusted that when God makes a promise it’s as good as done! Hebrews 11:16 says, “they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

How can you live by faith? Trust in God’s promises!

Prayer:
Dear God, please help me to always trust in your promises. What you have promised will come true! You sent your Son into the world to take away my sins and he will come again to bring his believers to heaven! Help me to always live by faith and trust in you. Amen.

Daily Devotions are brought to you by WELS and www.WhatAboutJesus.com.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.