“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as wellas unto them; but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Heb. 4: 1, 2
The people of God stood at the brink of entering into a land that promised the rest that they had longed for. Gardens already planted and houses ready for their dwelling.
As a mother with children standing by her side, having traveled in barren lands, today held something more than a longing! Stability, food other than manna, water always available, grass instead of dirt, etc.
Did that young mother realized that she was one more doubt away from losing it all? Did she understand that her walk through the desert was a test to strengthen faith for this very day. The Israelites lack of faith to enter into the promise land started back at the Red Sea, and continued each test they met along the way.
Did that young mother realized that she was one more doubt away from losing it all? Did she understand that her walk through the desert was a test to strengthen faith for this very day. The Israelites lack of faith to enter into the promise land started back at the Red Sea, and continued each test they met along the way.
They practiced doubt, and the habit of it became so much a part of their lives, that when the ultimate test came they were blinded from seeing the goodness and grace that God was offering them.
We must be very careful not to underestimate the power of doubt, in every little test we face.
Each new day holds the challenge of cultivating faith or feeding doubt. One leads to rest, and seeing the goodness of God, the other leaves us standing there, watching others enter in.
“Today if you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.”
harden not your hearts.”
Each new day holds the challenge of cultivating faith or feeding doubt. One leads to rest, and seeing the goodness of God, the other leaves us standing there, watching others enter in.
Faith is the mother of virtues. Faith is the fire which consumes sacrifice. Faith is the water which nurtures the root of piety. If you have not faith, all your graces must die. And in proportion as your faith increases, so will all your virtues be strengthened, not all in the same proportion, but all in some degree. ~Charles H. Spurgeon
"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." ~Thomas Aquinas
"The only way to learn strong faith is to endure great trials." ~George Muller
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