Living in Faith

I know I talked about the Unseen in my midweek blog. But it’s a recurring theme in our Prayer guide. Again, if you haven’t joined us, today’s scripture from I John is very enlightening.

But the one that struck me this week was reading from Hebrews 11.

1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Then it goes on to talk about Noah being warned of “things not seen,” and Abraham obeying even though “he didn’t know where he was going.”

9By 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. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

I wonder what God will say about Parkview some day. May it be said that he is not ashamed to be called our God!

How is that possible? If we live in faith. Faith in the Unseen God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. We may not know where, we may not know how, but we follow God where he leads us.

My prayer today, is for all of us to live in Hebrews 11. The problem is that these people didn’t always see the end of the project. They only “welcomed them from a distance.” They obeyed God and followed him to a place of sacrifice and surrender. And they didn’t get to see the end of their project.

I hope that is true for us. I hope that the church we build is something that we don’t see the full fruit of in this lifetime. I pray that we can live as “aliens and strangers” here on this earth and hold to treasures lightly so that God is never ashamed to be called our God.

Because the real city he is preparing for us is amazing.

Extra-terrestrially Yours,

Tim

Comments

[Debbie H.]

Points explained well... I love your sign off "Extra-terrestrially Yours"

I'm sure that OUR God will be proud of HIS Parkview.... I see his "unseen" works being done each time I come to worship... Does that make sense? Hopefully you know what I mean.

[Debbie H.]

I want to correct myself..... I should have said that I'm sure that OUR God IS proud of HIS Parkview.... He was/is and shall be proud of the service being done at PCC....