You Are Appreciated and Loved!
FAITH THAT OVERCOMES
Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:6 - "But without faith it
is impossible to please him; for he
that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him."
I John 5:4b - "And this is the victory
that overcometh the world; even
our faith."
Hebrews 11:6 - "But without faith it
is impossible to please him; for he
that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him."
I John 5:4b - "And this is the victory
that overcometh the world; even
our faith."
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF SIMPLE FAITH?
I was returning this morning from taking my nephew to work, and I thought of
two very special moments in the lives of our family that certainly were pleasing
to God an exemplified what simple faith is.
The first memory was of our son Chris. He was three years of age then, and we
had just finished morning devotions with him, and he climbed down off my lap
and walked into the other room. Suddenly he turned and came back into the room.
He looked up into my face and said, “Dad, I’m tired of being bad. I want to ask
Jesus in my heart.” With joy, my wife, Beverly and I prayed with him and Chris
received the salvation that only Christ alone can give. That salvation has carried
him for 24 years, but it all began with one simple child-like act of faith.
There are some who think that a child has to reach a certain age before they can
grasp concepts like sin and salvation. I disagree. I believe children are far more
understanding than we would like to admit. Remember Samuel who learned to
hear God’s voice very early in life. He was ready in his heart to hear even though
his intellect could not comprehend the full impact it would have on his life.
The second memory is also a rich blessing. Our oldest daughter Kristine was four
years old at the time. I was away from the house, and had just returned and came
in the front door. Kristine was sitting on the couch, and she looked up at me and
said, “Dad, I want to die.” At first I was a little alarmed to hear that from her, but
I quickly recovered and asked her why she wanted to die. Her reply warmed my
heart, and was a humbling revelation again of the simplicity God desires from us.
She answered me, “I want to die so I can go and be with Jesus.” Of course, we had
A little talk after that and now she is a mother teaching her little girl about Jesus.
So often we try to make life difficult for ourselves by striving to exercise faith in
God when he wants us to walk in simple faith or as the scriptures say, child-like
faith. We are easily overcome by so many things because we only see ourselves in
the picture instead of seeing how powerful and loving our heavenly Father really
is. Isaiah 26:3 has long been among my favorite verses of scripture. “Thou wilt
keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in
thee.” Long ago I heard someone say that perfect peace is not the absence of
conflict, but the presence of God in the conflict. How wonderfully true that is.
Thanks to Chris and Kristine we have been given important insight into what
God would teach us as adults if we would only let him.
I was returning this morning from taking my nephew to work, and I thought of
two very special moments in the lives of our family that certainly were pleasing
to God an exemplified what simple faith is.
The first memory was of our son Chris. He was three years of age then, and we
had just finished morning devotions with him, and he climbed down off my lap
and walked into the other room. Suddenly he turned and came back into the room.
He looked up into my face and said, “Dad, I’m tired of being bad. I want to ask
Jesus in my heart.” With joy, my wife, Beverly and I prayed with him and Chris
received the salvation that only Christ alone can give. That salvation has carried
him for 24 years, but it all began with one simple child-like act of faith.
There are some who think that a child has to reach a certain age before they can
grasp concepts like sin and salvation. I disagree. I believe children are far more
understanding than we would like to admit. Remember Samuel who learned to
hear God’s voice very early in life. He was ready in his heart to hear even though
his intellect could not comprehend the full impact it would have on his life.
The second memory is also a rich blessing. Our oldest daughter Kristine was four
years old at the time. I was away from the house, and had just returned and came
in the front door. Kristine was sitting on the couch, and she looked up at me and
said, “Dad, I want to die.” At first I was a little alarmed to hear that from her, but
I quickly recovered and asked her why she wanted to die. Her reply warmed my
heart, and was a humbling revelation again of the simplicity God desires from us.
She answered me, “I want to die so I can go and be with Jesus.” Of course, we had
A little talk after that and now she is a mother teaching her little girl about Jesus.
So often we try to make life difficult for ourselves by striving to exercise faith in
God when he wants us to walk in simple faith or as the scriptures say, child-like
faith. We are easily overcome by so many things because we only see ourselves in
the picture instead of seeing how powerful and loving our heavenly Father really
is. Isaiah 26:3 has long been among my favorite verses of scripture. “Thou wilt
keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in
thee.” Long ago I heard someone say that perfect peace is not the absence of
conflict, but the presence of God in the conflict. How wonderfully true that is.
Thanks to Chris and Kristine we have been given important insight into what
God would teach us as adults if we would only let him.