I have recently been inspired and encouraged by the rock-solid faith displayed by two of my friends in very difficult circumstances. Muriel, who is in her eighties, lost her friend of 64 years to cancer. She wrote to tell me with absolute certainty that Betty had “gone to glory at 5 this morning.”
Susan’s 27-year-old daughter, Felicity, received treatment for breast cancer last year but has now been diagnosed with a liver tumor and needs more chemotherapy. Despite her heartache and grief, Susan told me unwaveringly that her daughter’s future was in God’s hands.
In Luke 6, Jesus tells the story of the wise man who built his house on a foundation of rock. Because of this firm foundation, the house was able to withstand any catastrophe that the weather could throw at it. Jesus commends people, like my friends Muriel and Susan, whose faith in God is unswerving no matter their circumstances. It is one thing to have faith when everything is going well; but when troubles assail us, we need the comforting strength of God’s presence with us to help us cope and survive.
What a blessing it is to have friends of strong faith whose powerful witness is an encouragement to all who know them!
TODAY'S PRAYER: Dear God, deepen our faith so that we may learn to rely on your love and strength in every situation. Amen.
TODAY'S READING: Hebrews 11:1 Trusting[Hebrews 11:1 Habakkuk 2:4] is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see. 2 It was for this that Scripture attested the merit of the people of old.
3 By trusting, we understand that the universe was created through a spoken word of God, so that what is seen did not come into being out of existing phenomena.
4 By trusting, Hevel offered a greater sacrifice than Kayin; because of this, he was attested as righteous, with God giving him this testimony on the ground of his gifts. Through havingtrusted, he still continues to speak, even though he is dead.
5 By trusting, Hanokh was taken away from this life without seeing death — “He was not to be found, because God took him away” — for he has been attested as having been, prior to being taken away, well pleasing to God.[Hebrews 11:5 Genesis 5:24] 6 And without trusting, it is impossible to be well pleasing to God, because whoever approaches him must trust that he does exist and that he becomes a Rewarder to those who seek him out.
7 By trusting, Noach, after receiving divine warning about things as yet unseen, was filled with holy fear and built an ark to save his household. Through this trusting, he put the world under condemnation and received the righteousness that comes fromtrusting.
8 By trusting, Avraham obeyed, after being called to go out[Hebrews 11:8 Genesis 12:1] to a place which God would give him as a possession; indeed, he went out without knowing where he was going. 9 By trusting, he lived as a temporary resident in the Land of the promise, as if it were not his, staying in tents with Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov, who were to receive what was promised along with him. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with permanent foundations, of which the architect and builder is God. (Complete Jewish Bible).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God is the only sure foundation for life.
PRAYER FOCUS: Someone who has lost a longtime friend
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