DAY 194- BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE WILDERNESS

Reading: Luke 11: 29; Hebrews 11

We ended yesterday’s study devotional by saying that we are to accept God’s Word by faith, without pressing Him to show us a sign before we are willing to believe. 

‘Testing’ God, that is, refusing to believe in His goodness, provision and promises, is always wrong and will always lead to serious consequences, unless we repent. 

God’s promises are there for us when we need them and we are encouraged to stand on God’s Word and pray accordingly. However, to manipulate situations in an attempt to coerce God into fulfilling His promises is evil – what’s more, God won’t play that game with you. 

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11: 1). The Israelites at Massah were said to have tested God,  because they lacked faith in Him. 

Faith, by its very definition, takes risks. When true faith is present, obedience follows. It is this faith-inspired action of obedience that God loves. It brings Him the honour that is rightfully His. By contrast, when we view God through our sin-soaked unbelief and demand that He does something to prove His trustworthiness, we are treading on the thin ice of ‘testing’ God. 

Think of it like this: This is the only chance you have to show the Lord how much you trust Him. It is only here on Earth where you can live by faith, and not by sight. One day you will be in His very presence and you will no longer have the opportunity to walk by faith. He is not unaware of the darkness and difficulty of this life, He is not oblivious to the fact that it is hard to believe what you cannot see – and that is why your faith is very precious to Him. 

Be generous with your faith – gift it to the Lord each and every day. 

Prayer

Lord, I wish to give You the gift of my faith and trust, each and every day. 

For the family

Over the next few days, watch parts of  this brilliant  video  together about the Wilderness region in Israel where the people wandered.