- If you want to learn about patience and how to endure suffering – where do you go? Whose life do you study? Job, of course!
- If you have a deep desire to understand the miracle-working power of God, you would naturally read about the exploits of Abraham and Moses.
- Do you want to gain some insight on overcoming fear to do what is right? Esther is your girl – um, I mean woman.
- Are you struggling to reject intimidation and embrace courage? Then reading about Joshua would be the best place to look.
- Do you want to learn about holding onto a dream? Read up on Joseph and his lengthy stay in Egypt.
- Have you pondered how to be content, truly content in all circumstances? Well, you would turn the pages of the New Testament to read about Paul.
- Do you long to go to deeper levels of intimacy with God? David is your man.
- Are you trying to figure out how to recover from failure and become all that God has called you to be? Peter is a great friend to connect with.
‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge
crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that
slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run
with endurance the race God has set before us.’ Hebrews12:1 NLT
Hebrews 12:1 begins, ‘Therefore ….’ And what is that ‘therefore’ there
for? It is there because it points back to Hebrews 11 which is also known as
the hallmark of faith and the faithful. It refers to an entire chapter devoted to detailing
the faithful actions of believers, the evidence of their practical application
of faith.
Then this
thought came: If God wanted to instruct someone, if He had someone that wanted
to learn about faith, perseverance, worship, joy in tribulation or walking in
humility, would He instruct them to examine my life? Would He use my life,
your life, as His textbook example of what walking in faith looks like
practically.
Am I living my life in such a way that I could say, like Paul, 'Follow
me as I follow Christ (I Cor. 11:1)’? In reflection of all the faithful who have gone before me, with the believers who
walk beside me every day and under the inspection of the unsaved who are seeking truth and wondering
if the Christian walk has an ounce of validity – do I conduct myself in such a
way that I am a witness of the power of Christ and have I become His letter of
love and hope to a confused, fearful and perishing generation. I believe that
is what my aim should be … and not just me but every believer.
My prayer, not only for this year, but
for the remainder of my life is that the LORD would be able to point to my life
and use it as an example - of what joy, patience, faith, love, trust and
perseverance look like in practical application. What about you?
I pray that you will have an abundantly
blessed day!
