Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
July 15, 2021
Read Hebrews 11:1-6
1 Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see. 2 The elders in the past were approved because they showed faith. 3 By faith we understand that the universe has been created by a word from God so that the visible came into existence from the invisible. 4 By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice to God than Cain, which showed that he was righteous since God gave approval to him for his gift. Though he died, he’s still speaking through faith. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he didn’t see death, and he wasn’t found because God took him up. He was given approval for having pleased God before he was taken up. 6 It’s impossible to please God without faith because the one who draws near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards people who try to find him.
Good Morning! Again I say rejoice!
I got a weather alert on my phone yesterday, an official CBS19 alert, that said, “It’s still hot!” How true, but how funny. Here are trained meteorologists who are reduced by the situation to make a very factual, but simple statement. From my many years as a teacher, I suppose I should count summer as my favorite season. Don’t get me wrong, I do love the opportunity to refuel and rest that summer brings, but many mornings and days I notice that “it’s still hot.” On the radio, I heard a reminder that in the middle of winter, we wish it was warmer, and in the middle of summer we wish it was cooler. Basically, we always seem to long for something other than it is.
Take a moment and imagine a world in which everyone is working to do their best to please God. Each working with what they are given and serving God in faith. It is important to take time occasionally to assess where you are in your faith journey. We are given so many examples of faith in both the old and new testament through which we can pattern ourselves. Likewise, we see many times where there are faith lapses even in God’s most obedient, loving children.
I believe that as the ocean ebbs and flows, our faith grows and recedes. Our belief in God is a dynamic, evolving process that allows for periods of growth, periods of stability, and periods of questioning. A few weeks ago we read the passage where the disciples awakened Jesus on the boat because they were afraid they were about to die. They rebuked Jesus and asked, “Don’t you care?” Jesus responded, “Have you still no faith?” The disciples were right there walking and talking with Jesus, and they still had difficulty maintaining their faith. We are called to believe in Jesus, in God, who we have only seen in the marvels of nature around us and in the stories in the scriptures. Through the Holy Spirit working within us, we are given glimpses of God in our lives. As children, we will have doubts sometimes, but we are called during times of doubt to lean a little closer to our Lord and Savior and call on those among us in our community of faith to lead us towards our next growth surge. From difficulty, comes great awakening in our journey of faith.
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. Life is hard and sometimes we become bogged down in assessing the things that don’t go as we wish. Sometimes we become stagnant and forget to notice the signs of Your glory in our lives. As challenging as these times are may we embrace each day and work to grow in faith as we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us into the being that you see in us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Embrace the challenges that precipitate the changes in your life.
Believe! Love God! Pastor Liz
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