“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” - Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Something puzzling yet certain is that believers are often faced with circumstances where the odds seem overwhelming. This is not unique. Moses was faced with a set of overwhelming circumstances, starting with the uphill battle of convincing a hardened king to release the Israelis and moving with a restless crowd through a harsh desert that was quick to lose faith after facing set backs. The Apostle Paul survived a shipwreck and was often beset with betrayals and imprisonment. Abraham aged in years without a child, that when Sarah heard God promising so, she had as many doubts, as she looked at her bodily circumstances.
About circumstances, sometimes they threaten to pose like the reality. From a physical angle this might appear the case. But from God’s angle, any circumstances are just temporal and quite powerless. There is always a greater force to overwhelm any circumstances which appears threatening.
For all his might once Moses turned to God the opposition which Pharaoh set before him melted away. This proved the case all through the journey to the promised land where other no less formidable circumstances rose. The Apostle Paul was delivered through shipwrecks and imprisonments as God came to his rescue. At the appointed time, in spite of all the doubts of Sarah who had seen her bodily circumstances and lost hope, God came through and enabled her to deliver a son. “Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him” (Genesis 21:2)
Any of us may be faced with circumstances where the odds appear insurmountable. From a physical angle we are as good as finished. It could be a health care crisis. There are financial challenges that people face. It might be opposition welling up against one’s professional progress. Sometimes people face tussles with powerful neighbors over land and other relational issues.
When we are faced with whatever circumstances, we should know there is always a greater power that can make any moot. Life is not all about what is seen by the naked eye. As believers we must not let circumstances dictate our lives with doubts and disbelief, but rather turn to God, “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20)
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, faced with circumstances that seem overwhelming I know you are able and greater than any force around and so I am rested for through you I have overcome, this I pray in Jesus name.
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08/05/2024 - 09/05/2024 All day“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
The culture of sharing gifts runs through scriptures and is at the heart of the Gospel. Upon realizing that Jesus Christ had been born the three wise main did not just go empty handed. “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Mathew 2:11).
When Jacob decided to return to his country, he went with gifts to soften the heart of his twin brother Esau, whom he had left maddened at him for various wrongs. “Then he selected these gifts from his possessions to present to his brother, Esau: 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys” ( Genesis 32: 13-15). The reason was, Jacob thought, “I will try to appease him by sending gifts ahead of me. When I see him in person, perhaps he will be friendly to me.” So the gifts were sent on ahead, while Jacob himself spent that night in the camp” (vv 2—21).
Esau was already a wealthy man and had no need of the gifts presented. But Jacob pleaded with him. “Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift” (Genesis 33: 11). This symbol of good touched Esau, brightened his heart, burying the old acrimonious relation.
Taking after these two instances believers should be in the habit of sharing gifts. We should visit each other not empty handed but like the wise men with gifts, not so much that those we are gifting are lacking, but as a way of blessing them. Proverbs 11:25-26, says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Most importantly we bless each other with gifts because we have received the most important gift there is in life, the gift of salvation. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I thank you for the most precious gift of all that you gave me of eternal life through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and so I pray that I may not hesitate to share this gift and bless those with as much whom you enable me to meet, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
