Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- August 8, 2013
And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. Hebrews 10:38-39
Saving faith is a Christian’s starting point and sustaining faith is what carries them forward. Followers of Jesus are saved by grace through faith and they grow by grace through faith. Faith in Christ is the key that unlocks the human heart to God’s imagination. The Holy Spirit looks for a humble spirit to spread around His spiritual security. He draws those full of faith in the fullness of His Spirit. Faith emboldens believers to begin each day better, because they started with Jesus.
Has fear or suffering caused you to shrink back? Are you frustrated by the feeling of two steps forward and one step back? Be encouraged since you are moving along the Lord’s path, though maybe not at the speedy pace you desire. Your Master Jesus takes pleasure in your perseverance when you press forward by faith in the face of frustration. Jesus is your biggest cheerleader. Your little bit of faith in Christ creates enough confidence for today. So, live by faith in God’s son!
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Furthermore it is the faith of Jesus that gives our faith spiritual fortitude. Similar to the fishes and loaves, when we surrendered to Jesus He multiplied our faith by His faith. Because Christ is our life, His faith grows our faith exponentially. Our capacity for belief is only limited by the Lord’s capacity for belief. So, by faith we are called to let Jesus loose with our lips and life. Daily we die to our small thinking and engage in God’s big thinking. Yes, we live by the faith of Jesus for Jesus!
You may start the day on your knees in doubt, but once you leave your concerns at the feet of Christ in prayer, you will stand to your feet to live by faith. You know you live by faith when you’ve cast your cares on your caregiver Jesus Christ. You know you live by faith when your Heavenly Father gives you peace to proceed. You know you live by faith when the Holy Spirit reminds you to give God the glory for your successes. Live by faith in the One who died for you.
Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” Galatians 3:11
Prayer: Heavenly Father, lead me to love motivated by Your gracious and giving love.
Related Readings: Habbakuk 2:3-4; Romans 1:17, 8:10; Hebrews 11:13-16; 1 Peter 4:2
Post/Tweet today: Saving faith is a Christian’s starting point and sustaining faith is what carries them forward. #livebyfaith
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Today is the day I found myself faced with frustration and defeat. The overwhelming feeling of loss and the inability to appropriately take care of myself, was consuming me. As I began to pray, I sobbed to God about my situation, yet letting him know, I will yet trust in him for my resources and total care. I opened my email, and I read my wisdom hunter. I had to respond, as it was talking directly to me about my faith, works, deeds, and grace. I know that I would be lost forever without grace and mercy. I feel like a child being disciplined; and here is the reason why – in spite of my close relationship with God, God wants me to see my relationship with myself and others. My relationship with God is interdependent and is the sum total of my relationship with self and others. There is no doubt I am experiencing a disconnect when it comes to relationships.
This read helps me to understand today that justified grace is a part of my direct inheritance. I owe God! I owe him to do the things I must do to do better. I cannot be closed, partial, unwilling to trust or change. I am not sure how to stop or start most of these things, but I am willing ! willing to be open, to trust, to be impartial, to change. for I have been awarded an inheritance that comes with a covenant, and that is to love my neighbor as myself. This is the part I play – to love my neighbor as myself. So, I ask, how do I love myself? I understand this – the relationship I have with me must incorporate all the components of the relationship I desire with God, otherwise, others don’t have a chance; Because you can’t transmit something you haven’t got. God by faith through grace, give me the increased capacity for relationship with you, that I might have a relationship with me, and with others. amen! thank you for this wisdom hunter today you found me.