day 6 - FAITH

One of the last sermons that the former pastor at PBC gave was about keeping our eyes on Jesus, especially in the midst of turmoil. Neither looking at other people to see what you’re doing better than they, nor looking at them with envy, wishing you had their talents or Spiritual giftings. The Lord called that to mind this morning while I was walking the dog. I mulled that over, frustrated that I am seeking Him out yet He’s telling me to keep my eyes on Him. I’ve been more consistently in His Word in these past 24 days than in a long while. He pointed me back to His Word, to the Truth to be found there. First, there was the Scripture for today, Proverbs 27:17 – As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Hmmm…

I’ve had several relational skirmishes lately, where it feels more like iron piercing than sharpening. Wasn’t sure where He was going with that one, but being the persistent child that I am, He led me to another verse, this time through someone I’ve known longer than anyone else in this world, other than my family. Jason turned up to comment on my post from yesterday with a verse from James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. Hmmm…

My roommate sent me a verse today, too. Psalm 108 –

My heart is steadfast, O God;
I will sing and make music with all my soul.
2 Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
3 I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
4 For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
and let your glory be over all the earth.
6 Save us and help us with your right hand,
that those you love may be delivered.

Hmmm…

At Bible study tonight, I twice found myself in 1 Peter. First in chapter 3, verses 3-6 – Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. Huh???

Then 1:5-9 - who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Hmmm…

Finally, Hebrews 5:11-14 - We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

I’ve been all over His Word today, and the consistent theme is persistent, patient, suffering, refining, sharpening, maturing FAITH.

I think He’s grown weary of my moaning. I’m in a wait. I need to accept that and do my best to represent Him well while I’m here. As Beth Moore said in Bible study tonight, “The bigger the promise, the longer the wait… character is at stake.”