Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Everytime youngest granddaughter comes over we read how Sal and her Mama pick Maine wild blueberries to can for winter, only Sal eats more than she picks. Mama and Sal run into Mama Bear and Baby Bear who love the Maine blueberries too.
Recently granddaughter had a playdate with a new little friend named Nora. Nora has short blond hair and blue eyes. My daughter hears granddaughter calling Nora “Sal”. She corrects her and tells her that her new friend’s name is Nora, whereupon my granddaughter, who has decided that if she looks like Sal her name must be Sal, insists on continuing to call her Sal.
Faith is not so mysterious and hard to grasp as we make it. The verse in Hebrews defines it in a simple way we can grasp and hold on to. Faith is simply believing God is Who He says He is, and He that does what He says He will do.
Too often we create a god made up of our own experiences, feelings, things we’ve read, seen, or been taught. Then when this god doesn’t perform the way we believe he should our faith crumbles.
We speak out words and promises and quote bits and pieces of verses combined with things we’ve been told and taught, our own thoughts, and our own understanding. We stand on the word, and then when our god doesn’t come through on his promise, our faith rocks and reels and comes tumbling down.
I think we’re calling God “Sal” when His name is “Nora”. If our god is not the God, self-defined in the Holy Spirit breathed Book, then he isn’t God at all.
If our god will do whatever a preacher, teacher, author, or our own opinion says he will do, or for that matter not do, and it isn’t something He says He’ll do, (or not do, “I will never, never, never leave you or forsake you.” Hallelujah!), then we’re standing on promises that aren’t promises at all.
Faith is simply believing God is Who He says He is, and that He does what He says He will do. There is, in God’s Word alone, enough revealed by God about God, to keep us asking, seeking, knocking from here to eternity to know Him in all His infinite wonderfulness. There is enough revelation in His Word about what He says He will do to keep us standing on His promises ‘til the trumpet sounds.
I don’t want to insist God is someone He isn’t, or to insist He do something that He never said He would do.
If God’s name is Nora, I don’t want to insist that He let me keep on calling Him Sal.
Still following,
Elizabeth
We love Blueberries for Sal. My granddaughter's name is Nora. I love how you used this experience to our perception of God.
ReplyDeletenice...easy to have misconceptions on who God is and what he should be doing for us...we build expectations...much like we do in every relationship....good or bad....
ReplyDeletehi neighbor...First...oh I love blueberries for Sal...so look forward to round 2 of reading it with grandkids...
ReplyDeletegreat word...I don't want God to be someone He isn't...or insist that He do something...
great post...
Blessings~
Sweet story of your grandgirl. Beautiful words - so true. We need to recognize that He is Who He says He is!
ReplyDelete~Adrienne~
Such a sweet story. And God is who He says He is. And sometimes I call Him Dad.
ReplyDeleteI like the Sal and Nora way of challenging our tendency to "make God in our own image"...
ReplyDeletelove this book. :o)
ReplyDeleteyour quote "If our god is not the God, self-defined in the Holy Sprit breathed Book, then he isn’t God at all." ...... so very completely right on! so often His name is compromised and tweaked to fit a personal desire, preference or standard, when our desire, preference or standard should be based on His name, word and promises alone. amen.
i do still prefer the name "jAne" though {for me}. wink.
Inspired post,Elizabeth. I loved this part the best:
ReplyDelete"If our god will do whatever a preacher, teacher, author, or our own opinion says he will do, or for that matter not do, and it isn’t something He says He’ll do, (or not do, “I will never, never, never leave you or forsake you.” Hallelujah!), then we’re standing on promises that aren’t promises at all."
Amen, sister! (And the book was one of our kids favorites long ago, too.) :-)
ReplyDeleteToo often we create a god made up of our own experiences, feelings, things we’ve read, seen, or been taught. Then when this god doesn’t perform the way we believe he should our faith crumbles.
ReplyDeleteoh wow. i fear i'm guilty of this. but lately my heart has been crying out for truth, no matter how it might hurt. love to you friend.
"Faith is simply believing God is Who He says He is, and that He does what He says He will do"...amen. And that's a Rock we can lean on.
ReplyDelete