Faith Beyond Life

Today we’re taking a look at one of the most mysterious figures in the Bible, yet maybe one of the most well known: Enoch.  His story can be found in Genesis 5, but our verses today come from Hebrews 11:

“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.”

What Genesis tells us is that Enoch lived for 365 years and in those years his walk was so close with God, he had so much faith in God, that God didn’t let him die but took him to heaven before he died. WOW!  That’s faith!

Unfortunately, the Bible doesn’t tell us too much about him; we know he had kids and we know he was very close with God, but that’s about it.  Yet I believe we can learn a couple of things from this man.

1-his faith made him special.  You are no different. If you have faith in others and in God, you’re special too.

2-faith is an experience.  Enoch’s walk of faith was short (comparatively speaking), yet it was such an experience that he had a different ending to his story than others of his time.

3-faith is best when in relationship.  Faith isn’t something you do all by yourself, there has to be another something or someone in the equation.  Even when we’re talking about having faith in yourself, if you have faith in yourself you’re working to build yourself up and support yourself.

4-faith is full of surprises.  I’ll bet that Enoch never guessed he would leave Earth as soon as he did.  You’ll never be able to guess the blessings that your faith can help you experience. There’s nothing like being part of someone’s healing or encouraging them in their faith journey.  But it’s something you wouldn’t expect until you’ve become a person of faith.

I don’t know if Enoch was perfect, or if the big factor in his life was his strength of faith.  But he shows that it’s possible for any ordinary man (or woman) to have faith that pleases God.  What does Enoch’s story reveal to you about faith?  Share your thoughts below.

God-Pleasing Faith

“And it is impossible to please God without faith.” Hebrews 11:6a

God loves that you do good things for others, He loves that you join groups and work together in the community to make good things happen. But nothing makes Him happier than when you’re doing it because you’re doing it for Him.

So, why does God want you to have faith?

Faith is the basis of the relationship you do or don’t have with God.  Without the faith, you can’t have a relationship with God.  You can do all the good things in the world and be as nice as humanly possible to people, but without faith something will be missing.

What God wants more than anything is a relationship with you.

You know that warm fuzzy feeling your special someone gives you, or how excited your kids get when you spend time with them or let them do something special?  That’s what God feels when you connect with Him-and it makes Him happy.

So, why please God in the first place?

I try to please God because I’ve seen the evidence of Him in the world, and in my life.  And just like in any other, human, relationship, I want to do my part.  Just like I want my partner, friends, family, coworkers and anyone else I’m in a relationship to enjoy being in a relationship with me, I want God to be glad He’s in a relationship with me too.

What can you do to better improve the relationships in your life?

Celebrating Christmas: Love

Happy Holidays!  I’m so excited to have entered the Christmas season!  It’s so much fun to pick out presents for friends and family and celebrate life and hope at parties. This month, going along with the season, we’ll be taking a look at the word “love”.

Hebrews 10:24 says:
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”

I think the best thing about love is that it keeps on giving.  True love is abundant and overflows into the lives of those around you.  The holidays season is all about giving gifts (no matter what you’re celebrating), and within the very meaning of giving gifts is spreading joy and sharing with each other.

It’s not about how much or what you can get but giving what you can give.

Love works that way too.  God gave us His son not because we would give ourselves to Him, but because he loves us.  Love creates countless opportunities to encourage each other and share some hope with others.  If you’re acting in love, you’ll do things and say things without expecting something similar in return, but usually your love will be reciprocated.

Whenever I think of how love works I’m reminded of the TV commercial about how one act of kindness is seen by another person and then they go and do an act of kindness, which in turn is seen by someone else who does their own act of kindness.  And the cycle continues.

No matter how much money you have, the best gift you can give this Christmas is the gift of love. Who can you share love with this season?

Change and God

This month we’re talking about change.  In a bit of a reversal, I want to talk about what, or rather who, doesn’t change: God.

Genesis 31:5 says “But the God of my father hasn’t changed; he’s still with me.”

Numbers 23:19 says “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind.  Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”

Psalm 55:19 says “God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.”

Hebrews 6:17-18a says “God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.  So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie.”

James 1:17 “Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”

You’re going to face a lot of changes, and your relationship and how you interact with God may change, but God himself does not change.  To me, this means that when I’m going through a new chapter in my life, I can rely on God being God, being that strong tower, that patient Father, giving friend, and wise and trustworthy soul.  I’ll never run out of His guidance or advice, He’ll always be there for me to lean on or learn from.  And He’ll always send me joyful reminders that He’s with me.

What does it mean to you that God doesn’t change?  Share your thoughts and reflections below.