“An Extraordinary Blessing” ~ ✨
The word of God is extraordinary! The Bible tells us that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. We who are made by God’s hands must know that this Word was with God in the beginning, and that all things were made through Him; without Him, nothing was made that has been made (John 1:1-3).
Someone might ask, “Why should we believe the Bible?” The answer is found within the Bible itself: All Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16).
So what does “faith” mean? Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Hebrews 11:6 points out that without faith it is impossible to please God. We believe that the universe was formed by God’s word. The people of old received commendation because of this faith. And in these last days, Jesus Christ came and accomplished salvation. Through faith and by receiving the Lord, we have been given the right to become children of God (John 1:12).
A friend once asked me, “Why do believers trust and rely on the Lord so much, even when they face difficulties?” This is an excellent question – it gets to the very heart of our faith. The power of faith is immense! The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16)! Believe God’s word, keep your heart fixed on Him; commune with Him in spirit, let your heart move your hands, and put His word into practice.
Having said that, believers are not exempt from smooth sailing or having everything go their way. In fact, Christians sometimes face even more difficulties and challenges than non-believers! But the difference is that one has a reliance to lean on, and the other does not. As believers navigate through hardship and challenges, God always walks with them – peace is the shield in their hearts, hope is the staff in their hands, and they conquer one challenge after another. These are the promises recorded in the Bible, made manifest in the lives of believers. People can see this power among their believing friends, and in my own life, I experience God’s wonderful deeds every day!
It’s not that I chose God, but that God chose me while I was still in my mother’s womb – this is already declared in my name, “Grateful to Yahweh.” I encountered the gospel in my youth, and as a teenager, I believed, was baptised, and came under the name of the Lord Christ. Looking back now, God’s eyes never left me… He is full of love and mercy, and abundant in grace, having watched over me for most of my life. I am deeply grateful and happy to share these wonderful blessings with others.
The relationship between a believer and God is built on this one word: FAITH. This faith includes the thought of faith, the hope of faith, and the love of faith. When I was young, a preacher used a closed fist and asked us to guess which hand held a coin to explain faith. Through many years of experience, God has given me a deeper understanding of faith.
What is faith then? —
In ancient times (the Old Testament era), we see that Noah, by faith, reverently feared God. In his old age, he followed God’s command to build a massive ark, saving his family and countless future generations (Genesis 6:13 & 7:1).
Abraham, by faith, obeyed when he was called to leave his father and his people. He was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran, not knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8).
The biblical account leaves my imagination limited when it comes to the difficulties he faced. But when I visited Jordan and Israel in 2017, I gained a deeper appreciation – at least to some extent – of what Abraham experienced. I saw that the peak of Abraham’s faith was when he offered his son Isaac (Genesis 22:2 & 12). God made Abraham the father of many nations; kings came from him (Genesis 17:6; Romans 4:17). Christians regard him as the father of faith (Romans 4:11).
Rahab the prostitute, by faith, welcomed the spies in peace and did not perish along with those who were disobedient. When Jericho fell, God saved her family (Joshua 2:1 & 6:17). The examples are many; we can find more wonderful testimonies in Scripture.
Today we live in the age of grace. As children of God, what can we do for God through faith?
I don’t aspire to undertake a great project like Noah’s ark, nor accomplish mighty deeds like Moses did for God. I simply want to start by doing well in my own life, because the body of a child of God is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Doing well in one’s own life is not easy either. But we know that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and all who follow His commands are wise (Psalm 111:10). Following the teachings of the Bible is the beginning of wisdom, because we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
In the New Testament, God gives believers many instructions. I refer to the virtues the apostle Peter wrote about in 2 Peter (2 Peter 1:3-7). Regarding the eight virtues he mentions (faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love), how can believers experience what faith and these virtues truly mean in their daily lives?
In Paul’s letters, believers can find extraordinary teachings. I see that believers must first establish an interactive relationship with God – through faith and obedience, in the Lord Jesus Christ, doing the good works that God has prepared for each of His children to do.
While on a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee in Israel, I reflected on how Peter and the other disciples were chosen by God’s grace. They walked and lived with the Lord Jesus for three years, taught by the Lord Himself. When believers today talk about the Lord calling His disciples “you of little faith,” Peter is often the prime example. People frequently point to his three denials of the Lord as a sign of weakness. But it’s sad that the believers who criticise Peter fail to see that their own little faith is just as little, and their own weaknesses are just as weak!
God wants people to believe every word that comes from His mouth. Those who still live according to the flesh – relying on themselves – will retreat when danger comes. Faith is trained through experiences along the narrow road. The narrow road is the heavenly road (Matthew 7:14); though it is difficult, the Lord walks there with us.
Later, Peter repented and truly accomplished what the Lord entrusted to him (Matthew 16:18-19). Peter’s end was good; he glorified God through martyrdom (John 21:18-19).
Today, there are still many who have little faith yet rely on God – and also many who boast in themselves. The Lord taught His disciples to remain steadfast in His truth. To hold fast, we must first know God’s word. Pray that the Holy Spirit opens up God’s word for us so that we cannot be deceived.
I believe many people, when reading the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament, wonder why God didn’t simply put an end to the rebellious people (the Israelites) long ago. Why did He give them chance after chance, thousands of times, to repent?
From this, I see an unchanging way that spans countless generations: God is a covenant-keeping God. He will never forget the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Leviticus 26:42). Nor will He abandon those believers who are under the new covenant established by Jesus’ blood. It is people who break covenants and turn away from the way (Hebrews 6:4-6 & 10:26-27; 2 Peter 2:20-21). But God never breaks His covenant (Numbers 23:19; 1 Kings 8:56; 2 Timothy 2:13).
Beautiful appearance is admired by the world, but a wise heart is loved by God. Those who listen to God’s word and live under the covenant of Lord Christ are wise people – extraordinary people!
✨✨💖 ~
en yan hua fang 