"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6
What we know about God (Isaiah 1-5):
God is a jealous god
God desires a relationship with us
God desires truth
God is forgiving
God is vengeful
God is righteous
God will be exalted
God desires to teach us
God judges
God wants peace
God wants us to walk in His path, His light
God is superior
God can do whatever He wants
God's will, will be done.
Our response to this should be to fear Him, to glorify Him, to exalt Him, to trust Him...that in all things, we seek to please Him and use all that we have to glorify Him. Doing so shows faith, demonstrates that we believe that He is, that He will reward us.
God has the power to give and take away.
He hates pride (vanity).
He has both compassion and justice. Even when we sin--even deep in our sin--God pleads with us, does all He can to draw us to Him.
Life is more than the doing of things. It is more than high accomplishments, fame, and fortune, and all that rot.
Life is about knowing God in every facet of our being, under every circumstance, in every word, thought and action.
[Oh Lord, please have mercy on me, draw me to You. Help me make right judgments. Help me to love perfectly as You do.Oh Lord, please help me not to be weak or slow to do all that You desire of me. Please help me to use judgment and live in righteousness.Lord, help me to better handle people's comments and 'advice' giving.]
"Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers." Francis Chan
God wants us to succeed at our relationship with Him. That must be what we seek, what must consume our thoughts, actions, desires--our very being.
"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Hebrews 11:7
Noah was told by God to build an ark. He did it to specification as God directed. He had to do it well--no mistake, no half-hearted attempts, no slip ups, or 'oh wells'.
If we don't do our best, God likely won't bless.
[Lord, forgive me for often being in such a hurry that I don't do things well, I just get things done.Lord, help me to only produce the best I can--to always strive to do things well.]
Thank you for Your compassion.
Thank you for Your desire for us to succeed.
Thank you for caring for me.
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them,...But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." Hebrews 11:13-16
