October 26, 2014

The Shepherd's Corner

A dog is truly man’s best friend.  Those of you who are dog’s lovers certainly know what I am talking about.  Over five years ago the Good Lord brought a strayed dog into our lives.  Since then Oliver, that’s his name, has been in our hearts, not only in our home.  Every time we go and leave him home by himself, we feel badly.  We know he will miss us terribly.  But, we also know he will wait for us faithfully, sitting in the driveway, staring at the road.A dog is truly man’s best friend.  Those of you who are dog’s lovers certainly know what I am talking about.  Over five years ago the Good Lord brought a strayed dog into our lives.  Since then Oliver, that’s his name, has been in our hearts, not only in our home.  Every time we go and leave him home by himself, we feel badly.  We know he will miss us terribly.  But, we also know he will wait for us faithfully, sitting in the driveway, staring at the road.

Hebrews 11:1 gives us a definition of faith, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Oliver’s behavior has given me a live lesson of what faith is.  He waits for us patiently because he is sure we will come home even though he is yet to see us.  He is so certain of our return that he does not mind sitting in the driveway for hours—never questioning his decision.

Yes, faith is, “God is” and “God will.”  We say we have faith in God if we believe that God is—that He exists—and that He is as He says He is—good, loving, almighty, and holy.  But, faith does not stop there.  It continues with, “God will”—He will act, He will help, and He will punish.  That’s what faith is: believing that God is and God will.

Perhaps we are in that period—waiting for God to act.  Well, like Oliver, we ought to sit in God’s driveway.  We should wait patiently and believe doggedly because “God is” and “He will.”  But, we have to do it every day.  C. S. Lewis reminds us, “Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.”

Every day is another day to put faith into practice again.  It doesn’t matter how strongly faith stood yesterday, today it has to be re-awakened.  Hope has to be renewed; faith is to be freshened, daily.

Pastor Paul
Hebrews 11:1 gives us a definition of faith, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Oliver’s behavior has given me a live lesson of what faith is.  He waits for us patiently because he is sure we will come home even though he is yet to see us.  He is so certain of our return that he does not mind sitting in the driveway for hours—never questioning his decision.

Yes, faith is, “God is” and “God will.”  We say we have faith in God if we believe that God is—that He exists—and that He is as He says He is—good, loving, almighty, and holy.  But, faith does not stop there.  It continues with, “God will”—He will act, He will help, and He will punish.  That’s what faith is: believing that God is and God will.

Perhaps we are in that period—waiting for God to act.  Well, like Oliver, we ought to sit in God’s driveway.  We should wait patiently and believe doggedly because “God is” and “He will.”  But, we have to do it every day.  C. S. Lewis reminds us, “Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.”

Every day is another day to put faith into practice again.  It doesn’t matter how strongly faith stood yesterday, today it has to be re-awakened.  Hope has to be renewed; faith is to be freshened, daily.

Pastor Paul

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