Three Expressions of Faith

Scripture: ...who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword... Hebrews 11:33b-34a

Observation: In his litany of people of faith, the author mentions many by name, but only alludes to the exiles - Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego. Collectively, they avoided execution by sword during their training and refusal to eat defiled food, survived a death sentence of being burned alive when they refused to bow to idols, and were not eaten in the lions' den when imprisoned for praying to God.

However, they WERE ... threatened with execution if they failed to pass a test of their health, thrown into a furnace so hot it killed the guards who forced them into it, and spent the night with lions so hungry they immediately consumed several other men who were cast into the pit the next morning. It wasn't just that these possible hardships existed and they avoided them. The exiles in fact were subjected to the hardships and survived walking through them.

Application: I have not often commented on the daily reading commentary, but today Nicky Gumbel describes three ways to exercise faith. These are faith as a choice, faith as perseverance, and faith as expectancy. My expression of faith, then, is that first I choose to have faith ... to believe in God, and to believe in his promises. Next, I continue in that choice regardless of the circumstance and hardships. Last, I expect God to respond to that faith, through delivery, message, encouragement, or fulfilled promise.

I currently have all of these. I do choose to have faith in the Lord, and full confidence that he is my savior. I am persevering through my challenges daily - some better than others - struggling against the forces that would bring me down (and again, some days better than others on that front, too). I expect God to ultimately arrive, place me into a new situation, and provide for my family, as he has promised to do for his believers.

I don't claim to have the faith of David, who could write songs while hiding from strong enemies in caves. I don't claim to have the faith of Daniel and company, who were prepared to accept death. I do claim to have the faith of ... me ... a man who knows Jesus Christ is my Lord and savior, that Yahweh is the sovereign creator of heaven and earth, and the Spirit-inspired promises to the faithful are mine to claim.

Prayer: Today, Lord, I again proclaim my faith in you alone. I can do nothing here but take earthly action. My future is in your hands, and therefore I know my future is secure. I seek your mercy for me and my family soon, as you know our stress and struggles. May your will be done. Amen.