Are We Living by Faith One Day At A Time?
Good Morning Friends,
God loves us and knows that we worry about tomorrow, and that we do not like to think about our own mortality…our own addictions. That is why God gives us the certainty and truth of His Word, divine revelation and righteousness, that substitutes for our human speculation and frailty. God gives us His Spirit directing us to live into a surprising reality. So here is the point to start us out… when life does not make sense we are somehow forced into a different mode of existence. So what is this we are experiencing? Are We Living by Faith One Day At A Time?
Scripture: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “The just shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:17 (KJV)
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 6:25-34 (NRSV)
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Proverbs 27:1 (NRSV)
Message: Today’s devotional title will almost universally be recognized as being related to one of the tenants of Alcoholics Anonymous. But do not limit the benefits of this message to some specific group. It was meant for all of us. The thing is that a lot can happen I one day. And trusting God is a good way to get through the high stress. These should be meaningful for us because we cannot control tomorrow. And today has enough trouble and surprises in its 24 hours. So we are not to let the worries of today effect our relationship with God. Yes, never put off to tomorrow what you can do today. But understand that this is especially true when it comes to our relationships. We have this moment and we are to use it to glorify God. And here we are to be encouraged with the knowledge that we were created in God’s image but moreover to reflect this image with clarity. Here we remember that if we are alive with Christ, if we live in His Holy Spirit then we live in the answer to the world’s heart-felt cry for hope. Here we focus on the Father and have faith in the future that He has planned for us to live. See! What we thought we knew we did not know at all. Now if we consider whether or not our faith in God makes sense. How does it stack up? Did it make sense for country of Israel? Did it make sense for Jesus? Well what about Abraham? One would have to say yes for against all odds they survived the journey. Friends, God is worthy of our faith after all and in our life too. Maybe living by faith in God is the only way to really live. So let us remember that God can provide and often does provide for tomorrow’s needs if we seek Christ first and even if we cannot see what tomorrow holds. Let’s learn to live one day at a time trusting in our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us all strive to take one day at a time, knowing that God will bless us and will provide for us. Let us remember that God is greater than our needs…today, tomorrow, and forever.
Pray we are putting faith in the right things. Pray we have faith in more than just ourselves. Pray we have faith even when it contradicts what we know or what we think we know about God. Pray friends we believe that God is worthy of our faith. Pray we stop focusing on what we do not know or understand and begin focusing on what is in plain sight….the next breath…the next step. Pray we see community through the eyes of faith in our children. Pray that we are too busy to worry during the day and too sleepy to worry at night. Pray that we understand that each day has enough trouble of its own but that each day also has enough joy of its own. Pray that when death and anxiety knock at the door we discover there is still hope…Pray we discover, in the fullness of God’s time, the comfort of love. Pray we hear Jesus tell us to worry less and concentrate on him more. Pray we be reassured that God loves the birds and the grass and the lilies and each of us. Pray we have more faith to get me through the confusing times. Pray we find greater joy in God who knows our needs before I ask. Pray we rejoice in the love and the power of God. Pray we have faith in Jesus. Pray that we not worry about the things we cannot change. Pray that we stop worrying and start living by faith one day at a time.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 