Walk by Faith Not by Sight

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JESUS SPEAKS

When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with clay. And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. (John 9: 6 – 7)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

Jesus encounters a blind man desiring to be healed. Using an unorthodox method, He makes mud with His spit; smearing it across the man’s eyes. Still, instead of being instantly healed, he is instructed to go to the pool of Siloam and wash the dirt from his face. In faith, he remains obedient and soon returns with his sight. Because he listened to Jesus and followed God’s instructions, he experienced an amazing miracle.

As we read in the old Testament, the Jews who were led out of Egypt wandered in the desert for quite some time. They eventually reached the boundaries of the land God had promised to them as an inheritance. The Lord commanded them to cross over the Jordan river and conquer the inhabitants. Unfortunately fear infected their hearts, causing them to doubt God’s ability to give them the victory. As punishment, God condemned them to wander in the desert for an entire lifetime, until the following generation was willing to obey His instructions.

Even today, those who are God’s chosen people are commanded to follow His instructions. We must walk by faith, not by sight; trusting in His strength and in His power. No matter how large or immovable the obstacles might appear, we musn’t succumb to fear. The Lord is with us, and through Him we can achieve victory. If we walk according to God’s will, then we will experience miraculous things.

“Lord Heavenly Father, may we trust in Your power and in Your strength. Although we are weak, You are our strong tower. May we follow Your instructions and observe Your commandments every day. As we place our faith in You, we are confident that we will see miracles and observe marvelous wonders. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit Lord. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

The Narrow Gate

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JESUS SPEAKS

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7: 13 – 14)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

Living as a Christian is more difficult than any other way of life. Not many will choose to follow Christ because all believers are required to embrace selflessness; sacrificing our own desires in the present to better accomplish God’s will. The vast majority of individuals will choose the widest, easiest path; feeding their own flesh to avoid experiencing any present discomfort. Still, the path to eternal life is to die with Christ and be reborn.

According to historical accounts, in 320 A.D., Emperor Lucinius was engaged in the persecution of Christians within the boundaries of the Roman Empire. During this time, we read of an event that took place Near the city of Sebaste. Defying their commanders, approximately 40 honorable soldiers refused to denounce their faith in Jesus Christ. As punishment, they were marched onto a frozen pond and their garments were removed. They were given instructions that if they relented and abandoned their faith they could come back to shore and warm themselves. In defiance, the men rejoiced as they saw their eternal destination fast approaching. One man however, did relent; and yet another soldier who was guarding the men removed his clothes and took his place; confessing his newfound faith in Jesus. They all died, but are still alive in Christ.

Often, like these 40 soldiers, to live according to God’s commandments is to face death and persecution in the present. The path to eternal life is narrow; and not many will choose this sacrificial form of living. However, we should not be depressed or downcast. The Christian life, with all of its difficulties, is utterly amazing. Nothing else can produce overwhelming joy and everlasting peace within the human heart. As we celebrate our future with God, we can rejoice in the present.

“Lord Heavenly Father, give us the strength and courage to choose what is right and to shun the passing pleasures of sin. May we sacrifice our own desires for the good of Your Kingdom, spreading the gospel message to all those we meet. You alone are the Author and the Finisher of our faith. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

Facing Corruption

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JESUS SPEAKS

Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.“ (Luke 19: 45 – 46)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

Although Jesus would soon put an end to temple worship, He expressed a zeal for maintaining the purity of God’s house. As pilgrims arrived for the Passover festival, they were required to bring animals to sacrifice. The religious leaders however, chose to corrupt this process by forcing travelers to purchase animals from them in the temple; at outrageous prices, thus enriching themselves at God’s expense. Jesus restored order and purity by chasing these evil men and their livestock out of the temple.

One night many years ago, the television I was watching landed on a supposedly Christian station. Without giving it much attention, I walked around the apartment as a wealthy preacher expressed the fundamentals of a prosperity doctrine; a doctrine which claims that God wants to bless His followers with wealth and riches beyond measure, but first they must give money to the preacher before their blessing can be realized (this is different than tithing.) These corrupt individuals often prey upon vulnerable populations, such as the elderly. What I heard next was horrifying. The man began to pray, expressing his confidence that God was speaking to those who were watching. According to him, God was telling listeners to give to his ministry even if they were poor and couldn’t afford to donate. He continued, saying something to this effect; “And even if you don’t have money to give, you should reach into your pocket and take out your credit card and use it to give right now.” I promptly changed the channel in disgust.

The world is full of hypocrisy, corruption, and thievery. Some will seek to exploit Christ’s name and His message for their own personal profit. When confronted with such evil behavior, we shouldn’t shrink or fade away. But instead, like Christ, we must stand up and openly profess the truth; making every effort to purify what has been corrupted by man. May we be a light in the darkness, and an example of God’s goodness to everyone we meet.

“Lord Heavenly Father, may we always be zealous for You. Guide us through the power of Your Holy Spirit, that we might expose corruption and evil whenever and wherever we encounter it. May we submit to You and obey what is good and right, as we seek to spread the gospel message to the entire world. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!