My Inbox of Daily Inspirations: Daily Heartlight -- February 16, 2008

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\ / HEARTLIGHT(R) Magazine --

http://www.heartlight.org/
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February 16, 2008

|-- Follow Phil as He Visits Uganda for Compassion --------|

Phil Ware is traveling with 15 other bloggers to Uganda
in an effort to increase the sponsorship of children
through Compassion International.

You can read about the trip and follow along on his blog:

|--

http://blogs.heartlight.org/phil/

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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================

But Do You Trust Him?, by Bill Sherrill

So much is written in the Scriptures concerning faith. It was Abraham's
faith that led him to the land of promise and allowed him to be called
"the father of the faithful." He, along with many others, is given as
an example of faith in the Hebrew letter. It is there that the
statement is written, "And without faith, it is impossible to please
God ..." (Hebrews 11:6 NRS). The explanation is given, "for whoever
would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards
those who seek him." Jesus is quoted again and again as saying "If you
have faith ..." or "unless your faith ..." In the most important
reference of all, we are told, "He who believes [has faith] and is
baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned"
(Mark 16:16 NKJV).

What is the source of this faith?

The Scriptures claim, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God" (Romans 10:17 NKJV). My concern is whether or not each
of us has the faith written about in the Word. I am not thinking of
whether or not we believe in God, but rather, whether or not we believe
God. There is a significant difference.

James writes, "The demons believe -- and tremble" (James 2:19 NKJV). In
other words, one can believe in the existence of God without giving any
respect to what He says. Even those who profess to be Christians can do
that as well, can't we?

Do you live with the evidences of a life of trust?

To believe God is to accept His nature and the truth of what He tells
us. The world is filled with those who do not believe that there is a
god, or at least don't believe that Yahweh is the one true God. That is
a tragedy in its own right, but the greater tragedy is that many who do
accept God and profess belief in His Word, fail to show evidence of
that belief (Matthew 7:21-29).

Perhaps my point will be clearer if I use the phrase "trust completely"
for the idea of faith. To "trust completely" is more than mental
assent. It is to respond to that assent with actions that show the
trust. In a time when one of the greatest maladies seen in individuals
is anxiety, it is obvious that many have not laid hold of the teaching
of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5 through 7) when
the Lord said, "Be not anxious about anything." His explanation of
God's care for the lilies of the fields and the birds of the air falls
on ears deafened by the cares of the world. Or again when he said,
"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness."

Do you live with the evidences of a life of trust? It is often
difficult, but always absolutely necessary. The struggle is real, but
the promise is greater. We, like the man who was told his son would be
healed if he would only believe, may often cry out "I believe, help my
unbelief" (Mark 9:24); but at least we are struggling in the right
direction.

---------
(c) 2008 Bill Sherrill <sherrill@cox-internet.com>'s Thought for
the Week. Used by permission.

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Daily Heartlight -- February 16, 2008