July 5
Pleasing God
One of Susan’s brothers recently told me about his journey back to faith. He was raised in a Christian home, but stopped having faith many years ago. After their father died, his spiritual interest was piqued again. He said to me, “I don’t feel like I have to prove that God exists to doubters for me to believe. If I want to love Jesus that’s my business, and I do love Jesus.” Faith is the proof, it is the substance of our hope. My brother-in-law is right, he doesn’t have to prove his faith in anybody’s test tube. If he wants to love Jesus, it is his business. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (KJV)
Ultimately, the greatest benefit of faith is: it is what God uses to save our souls. Acts 16:31 says, “And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.’ ” (NASB) Salvation comes through faith. It matters what you believe.
The gospel is the good news that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose victoriously from the grave on the third day. If you believe the gospel and ask God to save your soul, He will.
But it does more than save our soul, it gives us hope in the midst of our troubles. When life jack-hammers our souls into pulp, it is easy to lose perspective and drift into despair. Like the urge to scratch a mosquito bite, we are often compelled to do irreparable damage to ourselves and others when we are hurting. But faith allows us to find hope in the rubble of our lives. And when we do, our faith response pleases Him.
Hebrews 11:6 says “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (NASB)
Jim L. Wilson, Fresh Start Devotionals (Fresno, CA: Willow City Press, 2009).
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