Day 29: Wake up and recover your life
Scripture focus: By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. "They looked all over and couldn't find him because God had taken him." We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken "he pleased God." It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. Hebrews 11:5-6 (The Message)
"Why did this happen to me? Is this my fault? Is it his fault?" She slumped down in her chair and tried to make sense of her suddenly serious life. Unaware of undercurrents of discontent, she was caught off guard when her spouse behaved in a way that she would have said was completely out of character. It was bad behavior by anyone's standards.
This wife's solution includes redoubling her efforts at goodness. Maybe she had become sloppy in her faith and if she improves her service to God, he'll fix her circumstances. The perspective of "love God and prosper / displease God and suffer" drives many believers' behavior.
Scripture doesn't quite say that. Certainly God's word does say we reap what we sow. But that verse is talking about cause and effect.
Why did Enoch skip death? Because he pleased God.
What pleases God? Is it our flawless behaving?
According to Hebrews 11, Enoch pleased God when he:
- Believed that God exists; and
- Knew that God cares and responds to those who seek him.
Dreaming big dreams will require faith. Faith is a firm commitment to believing in God and a relentless search to deepen our understanding of who God is and how he relates to us.
May your biggest dreams be informed and guided by a deep and abiding commitment to knowing God.
Recommended reading: Proverbs 24-26
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