As the rain and snow

“Satan incited David to number Israel. So David said to Joab.., ‘Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.’ But Joab said, ‘May the Lord add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not… all my lord’s servants? Why require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?’ But the king’s word prevailed…

“But God was displeased, and he struck Israel. And David said to God, ‘I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. Now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly… I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.’

“So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men fell. God sent the angel to destroy, but… relented from the calamity. He said.., ‘It is enough; now stay your hand.’ The angel was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. David said to God, ‘Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil…’

“The angel of the Lord had commanded… that David go up and raise an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan… King David said to Ornan, ‘I will buy for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.’  So David paid Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the site. And David built there an altar to the Lord and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar. Then the Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.

“Then David said, ‘Here shall be the house of the Lord God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel.'” 1 Chronicles 21:1-4a,7-8,13-18a,24-27; 22:1

Godly David was vulnerable to sin as any other. His folly of the census, spawned from a poison drop of pride late in his reign, brought hellish justice from God and a beautiful picture of sanctification. The very place of sin and judgment became the place of sacrifice and staying the hand of death, redeeming brokenness with the Lord into His temple of ongoing communion. How graciously the Lord works good from man’s uncontrolled depravity.

And oh, how Satan incites! We are never here on earth free from his wily plots, yet we have the sacred altar, the throne of grace, to which we can fly in time of need. Do we understand the calamity, the cost, the completion of the vindication? The moment of our sin is met with Christ’s mercy and power, the place of transgression is covered with His blood. (Hebrews 4:15-16; 1 Peter 5:8)

How sensitive are we to conviction from the Holy Spirit? Do we immediately humble ourselves and confess? What will we offer, of possession and praise, in gratitude for God’s grace?

Lord, help me remember and rejoice in Your perfect sacrifice, for Your glory.

“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God… 

“For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” 1 Peter 2:15-16,19-23

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12

Countering the natural reaction to sorrow, suffering, and persecution, these writers soften their blow with the truth that it is a gracious thing to endure these hardships with Christ. Mindful of Him, God’s children understand better what He went took on their sake. Undergoing adversity for doing good, they taste His sufferings. Not only can they practically learn from His example, but are blessed in doing so. (Philippians 3:10)

A gracious thing? How can these weighty trials and anguish be a gracious thing? When considered in the light of Christ Jesus’s unjust condemnation and horrific crucifixion, enduring the cruelest death to serve our sentence and win our salvation, we are humbled. We see the trusting submission, the higher purpose, the agony endured for the joy ahead, and can begin to follow. The way is not easy, but it is strewn with grace and love and strength we would not otherwise know. (Hebrews 12:2-3)

What currently distresses us at work or home? Is there a trauma or tribulation that presses us down, and sad? Where are we struggling for breath to take the next step, or face the onslaught, or hope in the darkness? What if we claimed our freedom in Christ to walk with Him through the vale, and began to apply His example of trust, and submission, and enduring for the joy ahead? How might we begin to share His glory, and shine it to those who watch?

“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.” ~R. Keen (1787)

Father, help me welcome every hardship as a gracious thing leading me to holiness.

“They brought in the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. And when David had finished the offerings.., he blessed the people in the name of the Lord  and distributed to all Israel, men and women, to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.

“Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel… to play harps and lyres,.. to sound the cymbals, and… to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God. Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the Lord by Asaph and his brothers.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
    make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
    tell of all his wondrous works!
Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
Seek the Lord and his strength;
    seek his presence continually!
Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
    his miracles and the judgments he uttered…

Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
    Tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples!
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
    and he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and joy are in his place.

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth;
    yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
    and let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns!’
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
    let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
    before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever!..
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting!” 1 Chronicles 16:1-12,23-34

The placement of the ark of God’s presence in Jerusalem was cause for great joy. David took opportunity to gather Israel in celebration with sacrifices and thanksgiving. His appointments of music and sacred praise established a rhythm of worship for God’s people that resounds today.

A heart right with God knows its place, and Who holds the highest place. All comes from Him, all gladness and praise is due Him. Though we owe the Lord Jesus nothing for our salvation because He paid all, we owe Him everything in gratitude. Regular thanksgiving becomes a holy habit and fills our souls to spill over to bless others. What is my song this day? When will I sing, and with whom will I share God’s bounty? (1 Chronicles 16:37-43)

“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:36

Lord, fill my soul and mouth with the joyous praise You deserve, forever.

“David assembled all Israel…  And [they] went up… to Kiriath-jearim that belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord who sits enthroned above the cherubim. And they carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio were driving the cart. And David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets.

“And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled.  And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God. And David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah… And David was afraid of God that day, and he said, ‘How can I bring the ark of God home to me?’ So David did not take the ark home into the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.”

“David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel… David inquired of God, ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?’ And the Lord said to him, ‘Go up, and I will give them into your hand.’ And he went up to Baal-perazim, and David struck them down there.”

“Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the Lord had chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to him forever. David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place… [He] said to them, ‘Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord… Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.’” 1 Chronicles 13:5-13; 14:2,10-11; 15:2-3,12-13

The harsh justice of God brought a stab of anger that without contrition, turned to fear. David distanced himself from the blessing of God’s presence. He knew God, but held a blindspot that the Lord, in love, had to address. Though it seems to have taken some time, he humbled himself, named his prideful folly, and returned to this holy and merciful God whom he now revered and trusted in a deeper way. Communion fully restored, he set out to bring up the ark to its place in God’s prescribed way.

When we genuinely humble ourselves and are honest before the Lord, we will verbalize where we’ve gone astray. We confess pompous attitude and blatant action, and He will redirect us in the right path. Obedience always pleases Him and brings great joy. (1 Chronicles 15:16,25-28; 16:1-4,7-12)

When have we intentionally asked God to reveal blind spots? Meditating on His holiness as we review our head to toe attitudes and actions allows His light to expose our grunge. Would we then name our sin as the affront it is, and repair our way? Restoring His Name to its rightful place results in gladness we find nowhere else.

Lord, keep me ever humble, and joyfully obedient, before You.

“Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul… the mighty men who helped him in war.”

“These are the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom… Jashobeam was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against 300 whom he killed at one time.

“Next to him was Eleazar… He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley, and the men fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and killed the Philistines. And the Lord saved them by a great victory.

“Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam, when the army of Philistines was encamped in the Valley… David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem. David said longingly, ‘Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem!’ The three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the Lord and said, ‘Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.'” 1 Chronicles 12:1, 11:10-19

In his early days when fleeing the vitriolic king Saul, anointed-but-not-yet-installed king David had taken in destitute stragglers. They were drawn, perhaps by his magnetic boldness and bravery, perhaps by the promise of who he would become. Time spent with him and under him and following him emboldened them. They came needy, depressed, and bitter; they became strong, courageous, and self-giving. Always the leader who trusted the Lord in impossible situations, David set an example they gradually learned to live out themselves. The encouragement they’d received and applied they became able to exhibit and return in great measure. (1 Samuel 22:1-2; 1 Chronicles 12:1-2,8,14-18,21-22)

Isn’t this so in our lives? There are seasons when we flee, needy and weak, to mentors and the more experienced from whom we draw wisdom, guidance, and strength. As we mature and encounter life ourselves, we become not only more able to handle things, but to set an example for others. We can return the same truth in exhortation, the same reminders of God’s faithfulness, the same loyalty and encouragement, to those who’ve poured so much into us.

Who are some individuals in whom we have taken time to invest spiritual sustenance? How well do we care for them, pray for specific needs, put aside our own agenda to become part of theirs? What growth has God given us both?

When was the last time we thanked someone who came alongside us at a pivotal time and made a difference? How have we blessed them back? Where can we pay their gift forward to another? Mutual support and the sharing of lives reap rich benefits for all.

Lord, in gratitude for all who’ve helped me, make me a bold, generous, loving helper to others so You are trusted and exalted.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God… Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:16,20-21

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:2-5

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” 2 Peter 1:3-4

It is clear throughout the Scriptures that God gives everything needed for His children to do good. He saves for particular good works, fills with His Spirit, and through Him supplies grace and wisdom and self-control. He orders circumstances to develop gifts and faith, and ordains opportunities to serve. The heeding then becomes an act of will, which when exercised brings great blessing and glory to Him.

Sacrifice of self is acceptable worship and the initial step in a surrendered, fruitful life. The flesh inclination toward selfishness and sloth may be a reason we hold back, but it should never be an excuse for disobedience. We are accountable for our response to temptation. If God commands, we pray for the want-to, and persevere in reverence for His authority and the resurrection power of Christ. (Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 12:28; 13:20-21; James 1:13-15)

Am I slacking in my walk with Christ, never putting hands and feet to my profession? Have I slipped into a static complacency, unappreciative of His gifts, deaf to His call to wholehearted worship, and indifferent to the needs of others? Usually the slide is gradual, fed by a small but willful neglect here and a tasty indulgence there. Where am I giving in to spiritual sloth and relational laziness? What does the way I spend my time tell about how much I care for those around me? Where have I become ‘uncareful’ in my speech, entertainment, or indulgences, and chosen ease or pleasure over God’s honor and others’ good? (Matthew 7:16-17; John 13:35; Hebrews 11:24-26; James 2:17)

Are we eager to put away apathy and malaise in exchange for enthusiastic good works fueled by His divine nature within? When God moves us from languid to avid, our countenance becomes vibrant, our love and generosity become lavish. He has given everything we need for effective witness and rich fruitfulness in this life that brings glory to Him. What are we doing with it?

Lord, may I honor You by fulsome worship and bountiful, selfless service.

“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.” Luke 1:1-4

“We will not hide them from their children,
    but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
    and the wonders that he has done.

“He established a testimony in Jacob
    and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
    to teach to their children,
that the next generation might know them,
    the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
    so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
    but keep his commandments;
and that they should not be like their fathers,
    a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
    whose spirit was not faithful to God.” Psalm 78:4-8

“One generation shall commend your works to another,
    and shall declare your mighty acts.” Psalm 145:4

“Tell your children of it,
    and let your children tell their children,
    and their children to another generation.” Joel 1:3

“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.” Luke 7:22

“We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20

Dr. Luke was an astute observer and careful investigator eager to record an account of Jesus. Having interviewed many and accompanied Paul on several missions to early churches, he was methodical and strategic in compiling an accurate description of His life, from the angels’ visitations to announce His birth to His death, resurrection, and ascension. His purpose? To minister the word in order to bring certainty about Jesus.

A life rich with experiences with God is one that overflows. The more we see and hear, and the more we desire to pass along. When we intimately know the Lord, we want others to know Him too and to carry the certainty of His presence through their days.

What have we eyewitnessed of Jesus’s powerful hand to convict, transform, and redeem in our lives and others? Where have we beheld His glory displayed in creation, a changed facet of our nature, another’s countenance, an answer to prayer, a particular enlightenment? What instruction, wisdom, warning, or promise has He spoken in a personal way? How tuned in are we to the magnificent workings of God and the personal power of His word?

Having observed and been affected by these things, how are we communicating them? With whom do we regularly share the delights and insights of our Lord? Do we keep silent, intimidated or nervous about what someone might think? Or will we boldly tell of our Lord so others might wonder, and taste and see that He is good? Even if criticized, questioned, or ostracized, are we willing to minister? (Psalm 34:8; Luke 1:26-55,64-66)

Lord, keep me alert to watching and listening, and courageous to speak of Your marvelous deeds, so You are known and praised.

“For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it... See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven… Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:10-11,25,28-29

Twenty-four hours apart, in the same climate and similar temperature, God’s array of artistry in the sky could not be more different. One day fire, the next feathers, compelling the astute observer to bow before the variety, beauty, and majesty of the Creator. Ever the same, yet vibrant and dynamic and alive, He implements an ever-changing palette, magenta to rosy blush, cerulean to milky pale, to illustrate the variety of ways He deals with His children. He takes care in each stroke and hue, each light ray or swirl, ordering every detail for eternal good and His glory.

God gets our attention, sometimes through fire, sometimes by feathers. Knowing His people have specific needs for and different responses to discipline, He also understands personalities, modes of communicating, and what is effective for each. God is personal in His interactions and sanctifying work. Some days He speaks boldly, others more softly. Sometimes He uses a plank, others a feather.

For us sojourners, some seasons are treacherous and challenging, forcing desperate dependence on Him, while others hum smoothly in peace and cooperation, almost lulling us into complacency and requiring determined commitment. The Lord wants our attention at all times to make us holy. Sometimes we are hard-headed, other times soft-hearted, and He determines His methods according to our receptiveness, malleability, and His particular intentions. He’s planted in each of us a will, in which He will ultimately have his way, and this Lover of our souls will shape our will as He pleases.

Is it our desire to be holy as He is holy? If so, how do we react to the refining pressure applied by this marvelous and many-faceted God? Do we resist the purifying heat He lovingly measures, or are we humbly willing to submit to burning but necessary rebuke? Are we sensitive enough to His voice to be quickened by the Spirit’s convicting whisper, or do we need a loud, even embarrassing, shout to correct our speech or decisions? (1 Peter 1:16)

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.” ~R. Keen (1787)

Gratitude for God’s interest in us and the kingdom for which He’s preparing us helps us welcome His hand. The more we yield, the deeper our reverence, the higher our praise.

Father, use whatever means to make me like You, for You are worthy of my all.

“Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold,
    and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.
Egypt was glad when they departed,
    for dread of them had fallen upon it.

He spread a cloud for a covering,
    and fire to give light by night.
They asked, and he brought quail,
    and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.
He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
    it flowed through the desert like a river.
For he remembered his holy promise,
    and Abraham, his servant.

So he brought his people out with joy,
    his chosen ones with singing.
And he gave them the lands of the nations,
    and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil,
that they might keep his statutes
    and observe his laws.
Praise the Lord!”

“Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,
    when he heard their cry.
For their sake he remembered his covenant,
    and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.” Psalm 105:37-45; 106:44-45

For God, to remember was not just to bring to mind, but always to act within His economy of time. The thought served as impulse to serve and fulfill His promises. God constantly remembered His friend Abraham and what He had pledged to him, and over generations unfolded His plan with preciseness and power to His people. He executed with love and protection, light and sustenance, all according to His character and word. He watched over His own for good, and a future, giving them joy, and lands, and cause to praise. In darkness, distress, and confusion, He remembered them with His abiding presence, and His covenant with unassailable love. (Genesis 8:1-3; 12:1-3; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23)

God remembers us too. In perfection and exquisite care, He executes His promises to us with surety, order, and divine pace. When shocked by a turn of events, we might wonder whether He knows or cares. We might wander to a far country of loneliness or poor choices and feel lost and forgotten. Circumstances may be tumultuous or painful or confusing, and He seems silent.

But the Lord sees all and is intricately involved in all our ways to fulfill His plans for us. Do we trust Him for this? Do we rue a slow or distant promise, or choose to be expectant at every step? How might we consume our minds with Him over our agenda and timetable so we are more alert to the glory He scatters along His way? (Psalm 11:4; 37:23-24; 138:8; 139:1-3; Jeremiah 29:11)

For us, is remembering God’s promises only a static mental exercise or rote repetition in song, or is it an active verb? How are we acting on His certain word, standing on and walking in His promises as our own? When we fail to remember God’s goodness and generosity, we can turn inward and rebel, or angry at unfulfilled wants. When we actively remember who He is and all He has done, we are spontaneously moved to vibrant gratitude, praise, and love. We respond in reverence, obedience, and hope because we cannot not react to His grace-filled activity toward us. (Psalm 106:6-7)

Lord, thank You for always remembering me. May I remember You and what You have done and will do, and so live with vitality, expectancy, and praise.

“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation… 

“By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise,.. living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” Hebrews 11:1-2,4-10

“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead...

“Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works… Was not Abraham justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? Faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works…—and he was called a friend of God…  Faith apart from works is dead.” James 2:17-18,21-23,26b

The heroes described in this passage were commended for decisions and lifestyles that aligned with God’s purposes and sure hope in His promises. None were commended for acts in a vacuum, but because the decisions they made and the paths they traveled were dependent on God’s will and calling. (Hebrews 11:11-31)

Faith that commends us to God is rooted in Him alone. By very nature, faith is not something we manufacture or must find within ourselves to exercise. It is a gift from God, grounded in who He is and what He has said. (Ephesians 2:8)

How well does our present faith commend us? Are we in a season of spiritual drought, frustrated at our lack of gumption to muster up faith on our own? Have we been too independent, too self-dependent, and neglected the Lord? Where have we been gullible to the world’s mantra that we just need more faith to make things happen? Have we lost our grounding in the Captain of our salvation, the Author and Perfecter of our faith? Where, other than Him and His promises, have we put our hope? (Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 12:2)

If we would own and demonstrate faith that’s commended by God, we must get in step with these heroes, fix our eyes on Jesus and His promises, and run our race with endurance. Regardless of potholes and detours, doubts and fears, temptations and opposition, faith exercised is faith made strong. Indeed, God proves Himself over and over. (Hebrews 12:1–2)

Lord, teach me to walk by faith in Your way, at Your tempo, for Your glory.