Walk by Faith

Last night was our Annual Business Meeting, which most churches do. It was a time to reflect on the past and look ahead in anticipation of what God can do through us in the coming year.  A time to do God’s business and refocus.  We spent a little time looking back at the past since the founding of our church and noted how a great many folks have come to Christ, how many have been discipled and went on to serve the Lord, some went to good Bible colleges and graduated and continue to serve the Lord in their various ministries, other churches have been started by men who were saved through our church ! All through a smaller country church !!   And to me a big highlight was that in almost a quarter century of pastoring, there are still some who have stayed with us and are faithfully serving Jesus Christ !!   Just regular folks who have been become more like their Lord and are making a difference for Him !

As with all churches, we have had our ups and our downs but when folks remain true to their Lord and His local church that is a definite “up” ! And I am honored to say we have such folks in our congregation.  The “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11 comes to mind as I reflect on people, who through the years, showed a pattern of walking by faith.  Let me just visit one example from that great chapter in the Word of God.

In Hebrews 11:29-30 it says, “By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.” Each verse is forty years apart as to the events here and each started with regular people hearing and heeding God’s leader instructing them to obey God’s Word.  They did what God had said even though it seemed unreasonable, humanly speaking.  At first it probably seemed so illogical to them but the Lord had a way out and He always does for us too.

Our task is to simply walk by faith and a regular person begins to be used by God Himself in great ways !    God commanded them to move in both stories when it seemed to do so was not the  brightest play in the playbook (but Lord there’s a lot of water, but God there’s this huge wall in the way and blowing horns and marching? Are you serious?). But they experienced great victories and were transformed and legitimately came away praising and worshipping their Lord – no cold, canned worship in these instances !   Hmm, maybe that’s how to get that worship ball rolling when it seems to be dry as dust?!   At any rate, do you need to take a step of faith in some way?   Our problem often is we hear what He says, but then we think “but if I do that. . . ”  .  We fear the consequences more than we fear the Creator !!   But when you walk by faith and do what he simply says, (fearful as that might be as times to you), great things can happen in YOUR life because God is at work to will and to do of His good pleasure !   So keep walking with the Lord, He intends to do a great work in and through YOU !!