Dave’s Monday Blast – December 26, 2016
Happy post Christmas Day. When will you take down all the lights? My goal is always by January 1!
Here is my New Year Commitment…I am resolved to “Walk by Faith” in 2017. Men of INTENTION purpose to “Walk by Faith” every moment of their days.
Walking is perhaps the slowest mode of transportation. It isn’t glamorous and it doesn’t require special equipment. Yet, men of any age can walk, and the slower the pace, the more you can appreciate your surroundings. Just think: though it is not the fastest way to go, God invites us to walk with Him. He comes alongside us by faith and journeys with us. My ninety year old father walks at least five miles every day rain or shine, partially for the exercise, but mainly because it allows him to speak with our Heavenly Father.
Author Trevor Sutton says that men have always had to LEARN to walk by faith. We aren’t born knowing how. He illustrates, “With tiny fingers curled around strong, fatherly hands, a child first learns to walk. Shaky steps and wobbly knees find strength in a quick upward glance at a beaming father. Any forward movement is met with uproarious applause. Learning to walk is not a solitary activity; it is a joyful challenge for the whole family. The early phases require a few bumps, several scrapes, and the shedding of a few tears now and again.” I fondly remember those times with my own children.
Sutton continues, “Learning to walk by faith presents many similar challenges. You begin that walk, taking a few wobbly steps, and then bump up against the challenges of everyday life. You manage an uncertain step forward, only to scrape up against fear and uncertainty. You tearfully place one foot in front of the other as you try to follow the Lord through the valley of adversity. What keeps us moving forward is that God journeys with us. The Creator of the universe walks with His children.”
God has always loved to walk with his people. Scripture is filled with this idea of God interacting with humankind in this humble manner. The Scriptural heroes of the faith like Noah, Moses, Joshua, David, Paul all had to learn to walk by faith. We are not alone in this process. We are part of a long line of learners. We read very early in God’s Redemptive Story that Noah walked with God. He walked with God when everyone else walked away from Him. Consider Genesis 6:9, “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.” And because Noah chose to walk with God he was saved.
Certainly Noah’s first steps of faith and many more that followed, were fraught with shakes and wobbles. Like that young child strengthened by the grip of his father’s steadying hands, Noah walked with God and was supported by His heavenly Father’s strong grasp.
I am certain that the year before me will challenge my faith. It will have its share of bumps, scrapes and tears. I will find myself in the valley of adversity. Yet, through it all, God will not let go of my hand. He will lead me forward. Next week I want to chat about the benefits of Living with Faith.
May God give each of us the courage to walk with Him in faith this year and the wisdom to wait upon Him (Isaiah 40:31).
