Faith to Face
I love reading mysteries. I love working and solving puzzles. I love surprises. But sometimes it can be frustrating living this way in my relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
I know God and I am growing to know Him more and more intimately by His Holy Spirit through prayer and the study of His word, the Bible. But I still have much to learn this side of heaven. I want to know Him so well that my desires and plans for life line up PERFECTLY with His. More often they do when I walk more by faith and less by my selfish humanity.
There have been many times in my life when God has supernaturally revealed to me glimpses of His specific will for my life through cryptic dreams and remarkable coincidences. It was only after the specific aspect of His will came to pass that I recognized how God had been leaving clues as to what would transpire. It's easier to connect the dots when you already know the picture they draw.
The problem comes when a person demands signs and wonders (Matthew 12:39; 16:4), walking by sight instead of by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). Faith in God requires us to trust in Him and place our hope in the fulfillment of what He promises according to His methods and timing (Hebrews 11:1) and not in our own understanding of what and how we think life should be (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 37 esp. vv. 3-7, 23-24, 27-31, 34, 39-40). Unless we have faith we can't please God (Hebrews 11:6).
But I want to be so tight with God in my faith relationship with Him through Jesus Christ and empowered by His Holy Spirit that I can discern what He's up to and where He's leading and how He's moving and I can join Him by unquestionable faith in His activity.
The author of the book of Hebrews writes about the "commendation" of the heroes of the faith in the Old Testament in Hebrews 11. Some of the heroes had very intimate personal relationships with God--like Noah, Abraham, and Moses--and followed God's leading because they trusted Him even though they couldn't actually see what would happen to them by following Him.
In a rebuke given to Aaron and Miriam, God describes just how close He was to their brother Moses. Moses didn't have to guess about God's will and intentions through the interpretation of cryptic visions or dreams, like the prophets. Moses heard clearly and directly from God.
Of course I believe that every believer in Jesus Christ can be this intimate with God through the Holy Spirit that dwells within us and we can know God's will without guessing (1 Corinthians 2:9-16). But the reason I tend to miss this clear information and instruction is because of the fog caused by my own sinfulness, which inhibits me from clearly knowing and following God's plans (Romans 8:5-17). Being intimate with God and knowing and following His will is a conscious choice every child of God must make. And when we make that choice, Jesus Himself says we will "bear much fruit" and we can "ask whatever [we] wish, and it will be given" to us because of our intimate relationship with God through Him which leads to a greater knowledge and obedience to God (John 15:1-17).
I want to know God by faith but also face to face. I want to know God "faith to face." But it is my choice made possible through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. I want to go wherever God leads and learn from Him what I need to know for the journey. Do you know where your journey will take you?
I know God and I am growing to know Him more and more intimately by His Holy Spirit through prayer and the study of His word, the Bible. But I still have much to learn this side of heaven. I want to know Him so well that my desires and plans for life line up PERFECTLY with His. More often they do when I walk more by faith and less by my selfish humanity.
There have been many times in my life when God has supernaturally revealed to me glimpses of His specific will for my life through cryptic dreams and remarkable coincidences. It was only after the specific aspect of His will came to pass that I recognized how God had been leaving clues as to what would transpire. It's easier to connect the dots when you already know the picture they draw.
The problem comes when a person demands signs and wonders (Matthew 12:39; 16:4), walking by sight instead of by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). Faith in God requires us to trust in Him and place our hope in the fulfillment of what He promises according to His methods and timing (Hebrews 11:1) and not in our own understanding of what and how we think life should be (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 37 esp. vv. 3-7, 23-24, 27-31, 34, 39-40). Unless we have faith we can't please God (Hebrews 11:6).
But I want to be so tight with God in my faith relationship with Him through Jesus Christ and empowered by His Holy Spirit that I can discern what He's up to and where He's leading and how He's moving and I can join Him by unquestionable faith in His activity.
The author of the book of Hebrews writes about the "commendation" of the heroes of the faith in the Old Testament in Hebrews 11. Some of the heroes had very intimate personal relationships with God--like Noah, Abraham, and Moses--and followed God's leading because they trusted Him even though they couldn't actually see what would happen to them by following Him.
In a rebuke given to Aaron and Miriam, God describes just how close He was to their brother Moses. Moses didn't have to guess about God's will and intentions through the interpretation of cryptic visions or dreams, like the prophets. Moses heard clearly and directly from God.
"And the Lord said to them, 'Now listen to what I say: If there were prophets among you, I, the Lord, would reveal myself in visions. I would speak to them in dreams. But not with my servant Moses. Of all my house, he is the one I trust. I speak to him face to face, clearly, and not in riddles! He sees the Lord as he is. ...'" Numbers 12:6-8a (New Living Translation 2004).
Of course I believe that every believer in Jesus Christ can be this intimate with God through the Holy Spirit that dwells within us and we can know God's will without guessing (1 Corinthians 2:9-16). But the reason I tend to miss this clear information and instruction is because of the fog caused by my own sinfulness, which inhibits me from clearly knowing and following God's plans (Romans 8:5-17). Being intimate with God and knowing and following His will is a conscious choice every child of God must make. And when we make that choice, Jesus Himself says we will "bear much fruit" and we can "ask whatever [we] wish, and it will be given" to us because of our intimate relationship with God through Him which leads to a greater knowledge and obedience to God (John 15:1-17).
I want to know God by faith but also face to face. I want to know God "faith to face." But it is my choice made possible through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. I want to go wherever God leads and learn from Him what I need to know for the journey. Do you know where your journey will take you?
posted by Sojourner at 10:01 AM
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