True Bible faith is not blind optimism

. . . or a manufactured “hope-so” feeling. True Bible faith is confident obedience to God’s Word in spite of circumstances and consequences.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

This faith operates quite simply. God speaks and we hear His Word. We trust His Word and act on it. The circumstances may be impossible, and the consequences frightening and unknown, but we obey God’s Word just the same and believe Him to do what is right and what is best.

The world fails to realize that faith is only as good as its object, and the object of our faith is God. Faith is to a Christian what a foundation is to a house: it gives confidence and assurance that he will stand. Faith is an inward conviction that what God has promised, He will perform.

When they stepped out by faith, people laughed at the great men and women noted in Hebrews Chapter Eleven. But God was with them and enabled them to succeed to His glory.

Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.

When the flesh of Jesus tore on the cross,

. . . and His life sacrificed, God tore the veil separating the holy of hollies in the Jewish Temple where only the high priest could enter. This symbolized the new and living way now open for all who believe.

Because we have a living high priest, we have an open invitation to enter the presence of God every moment of each day. What a tremendous privilege!

Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.

20. By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

21. And having an high priest over the house of God;

22. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

God could have created the entire universe

. . . in an instant, yet, He preferred to do it over a period of six days. He could have delivered Israel from Egypt in a moment, yet, He preferred to invest eighty years in training Moses. He could have sent the Saviour much sooner, but He waited until the fullness of the time was come.

You may or may not know God's plan, purpose or timeline for your life, but if you let him, He will make you a vessel of honor.

Romans 12:1,2 I beseech you therefore, brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Have Thine own way, Lord

Have Thine own way.

Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me after Thy will

While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Adelaide A. Pollard, 1907

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is God's love letter

. . . to us. He loves the world and each of us individually. As a father loves his children, He protects us. The Agape love of God goes deeper than man can fathom, and it can't be measured. We can never use it up.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

God loved us when we were unlovable -- spiritually dead. A great gulf separated us, and His love reached across, giving us a path to him.

When God looked down and saw me, a wretched sinner, He said, "I love you. Will you accept my gift of salvation? I will clean you up. I will give you a new life." Praise God, He did.

God sacrificed His very jewel of heaven. Whether you feel loved or not, or you think you are not worthy, He loves you any way. As God loves us and we love him, we have love for each other.

You can't earn God's love, you accept it. Because of grace and love, you can hold the very hand of the one that was nailed to the tree.