SCRIPTURE
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see... 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.” Hebrews 11:1 and 6
SPOTLIGHT
I recall attending a pastor’s conference with a fellow minister in Buffalo, New York. In session number one on Tuesday morning, the most distracting thing happened to me. Sitting directly behind me, was a man who kept coughing in my ear. For over one hour, he did this and never seemed to cover his mouth. I kept feeling the germy breeze.
Between session number one, and number two, I decided to move. Then the guest speaker got up and invited everyone to move for the sake of getting to know others. Wouldn’t you know it? This fellow moved right behind me again.
That day I had little faith and lots of frustration. Quickly, I moved again. Now the coughing man sat behind my minister friend. Once again, he began to cough. My minister friend silently prayed that the man would stop coughing, and he did. In fact, for the rest of the conference, the coughing man stopped. Throughout the next two days, I would notice him, avoid him, and observe him. He never seemed to cough. My minister friend had exercised his faith in God.
Hebrews is a New Testament book, which repeatedly uses the word “faith.” Faith is believing God exists which is evidenced by you depending on Him. Faith is believing God cares for you because you seek Him. [Hebrews 11:6]. Faith is a deep confidence that what you want, and hope for will happen because you trust in what God says. [Hebrews 11:1].
The fact is that faith in God is indispensable for living. You don’t do life well without having faith in God! Faith in God is necessary. It is the essential key to life, and death issues, pain, crisis, joy, and purpose, etc.
So, what happened to me after seeing my friend exercise his faith in God, and witnessing the man no longer coughing? On Thursday morning, we gathered for the last session. Just as the meeting began, I felt a cough in my ear. I looked, and it was the coughing man again. The germy breeze and annoying cough had recurred.
This time my response was different. I smiled thinking how God has a great sense of humor. This man was again sitting behind me. Instead of becoming irritated, I prayed for him to stop. This time, I exercised my faith in God. The coughing man stopped coughing. Inside me, I was laughing at how God had taught me a simple lesson. The major truth I learned at that conference was that GOD’S HUMOR BUILT MY FAITH.
SOMETHING TO DO
In the sports world, there is a Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, and the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. Also, there is the Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and the Boxing Hall of Fame, in Canastota, New York. And we must not forget the Hockey Hall of Fame, in Toronto, Canada, and the Football Hall of Fame, in Canton, Ohio. WOW! But what is more important is the Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews, Chapter 11. The writer lists the great people of faith in the Scriptures. And that is really a WOW!
Read Hebrews 11, recall their stories, and choose the one you can identify with the most.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Today, I bow in prayer confessing that I believe in You Almighty God. There is none like You. I thank You for revealing Yourself through Your Son Jesus Christ. I am thankful that the Holy Spirit has made You real to me. I choose to trust You with my life. Build my faith! AMEN.