By Faith – Page 2 – I'm Following Jesus

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Friday, December 23, 2016
Chapters: Hebrews 11-13
Message: By Faith

Hello My Friend,

I am extremely late in writing the devotion today, and apologize for that, and as much as my body is feeling exhausted from work and this crazy week of getting ready for Christmas, my spirit is exhausted too. At my job I watch people of all religions pass by, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, all of them proud of who they are, and they hold true to their faith. And while there may be just as many faithful Christians walking around, it is sad that there is no sign of Christ anywhere. How in the world did it happen, every religion known to man is free to be who they are, while we are forced to hide so we do not offend any of them? Double standard, right? Let me tell you, there is power in the name of Jesus, they can deny Him, but they cannot get rid of Him. “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.” – II Timothy 2:11-13.

Faith; the firm persuasion that God will say and do all that He has promised to us in Christ, eternal life, and His Kingdom. As corrupt and wicked as this world is all we have is our faith, the way of sight always leads to a life of defeat, but the way of faith leads to victory, peace, assurance, and endurance to enjoy what is to come after this life. Paul literates the importance of faith, from the time mad fell, God always had a plan to send His Son, and while none of the people of the Old Testament saw Jesus in the flesh, they never lost their faith.

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” – Hebrews 11:3-6,24-26.

“Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches” Reproach, Shame; infamy; disgrace. You know, Moses never got to step foot onto the promised land of Canaan, he was able to see it from a mountain, but was denied the opportunity to enter because he sinned against God. Moses did have faith is something of much more value than a piece of land or the riches in Egypt, the Messiah and His Kingdom. We are to never have faith in what we have here on earth because in the blink of an eye it will be gone, seek the treasures that only Jesus can give and we will have more than all the wealth in the world. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21.

If we can learn anything about faith it is through the men and women God used thousands of years before the Bible was even written. In fact, God used Moses to pen the Book of Genesis, which was given to him hundreds of years after all the events of that time took place. Everyone from Adam to Moses did not have God’s word to guide them, they could only walk by faith.

“And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” – Hebrews 11:32-35,39-40.

“received not the promise:” The promise of the Messiah that is. The Jews always knew that Jesus was coming, and while they greatly desired to see Him in the flesh as we do today, the saw and believed in Him by faith, just as we do. The Old Testament saints are perfectly justified, sanctified, and glorified, not by keeping the law, which by the way, every single person broke at one point, but by Christ, through His sacrifice, blood, and sinless perfection. We are never made perfect by our works, and since our sins and theirs all went to the cross we are all justified by the same righteousness of Christ, becoming one church of both Jews and Gentiles. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” – I Corinthians 12:12-13.

The men and women who loved and served God throughout the Old Testament were all examples of people who not only lived by faith, but obeyed God, yes they sinned, but they also admitted they were sinners, confessed it, and reconciled with God. Sin separates us from God and everyone else, no one wants to be around those who have no respect for themselves let alone Him, which is why we are chasten by our Father. People make such a fuss about what God expects and His chastening, but let me tell you, God is more merciful and gracious than our earthly parents, whom we received punishment from. Paul explains why God chastens us to begin with.

“Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” – Hebrews 12:9-13,27-29.

“that we might be partakers of his holiness.” God wants to perfect us, and while we will never be perfect until we shed these bodies, we can be perfect in Christ and be the example He needs us to be and not be ashamed to let the world know that He is ours and we are His. Godly fear is simply treating God with respect, it is having faith that He is able to do what He promises as we live in obedience to His Word, it is understanding that living in obedience to God’s Word has nothing to do with our salvation, but everything to do with our gratefulness for the sacrifice He made for us. While we may never understand all the things God does or allows, everything works for good and the glory of God. The need for Jesus will always be here, and will never change.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” – Hebrews 13:8-16.

“For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace;” Dealing with life and living by faith establishes a great deal of grace, not only by God, but even we learn the value of having grace toward all mankind. We can all overcome pain and suffering, and even find joy through our suffering by looking to Jesus and living the way He did. We can and will overcome all suffering, whether it is something we caused ourselves or someone else, but it all takes faith. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” – James 1:12.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” – Hebrews 12:23-24.

Today’s Prayer: God, I live by faith in my salvation, having never seen Your Son, but fully trusting in what He did for me on the cross. I want my life here on earth to also be by faith, and living in obedience to Your Word. Lord, as I look to Your Son, teach me His ways, lead me and guide me on the straight path, and let me live a life that is most pleasing to You. Let me not be entangled by those who rebel against everything You stand for, but let me also have compassion and boldness to speak Your truths to reach a lost and dying world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you, and Merry Christmas.

Christina

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