God is a rewarder of those that seek him…
How does God reward?
How do we seek him?
Is it worth it?
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Hebrews 11:6
I just read this verse tonight and my heart was stirred. When I forget that God is a rewarder of those that seek him and let my culture of equality determine my thoughts it always breeds passivity in my life. But when I remember and know that God rewards those that earnestly seek him. I want so much to be close to him and be rewarded with his presence.
So how important is faith? This verse says that it is absolutely impossible to please God without faith, the last verse of Romans 14 says that anything that is not done in faith is sin and in Luke 18 Jesus’ biggest concern when he comes back is “When the Son of Man returns, will he find faith on the earth?” This is what He is focused on and 1 Cor 13 says that faith is one of the only eternal things that remain.
What is faith? This is something that has really captured my thoughts lately. It is a substance according to Hebrews 11. I believe that in some miraculous and merciful way faith is like the currency of the supernatural realm. As we step out in faith and offer it to God, He will release the miracle. It’s not a formula but it’s an aspect of our relationship with him.
What is faith like? It’s something that is always growing, it is alive. We have to protect it against doubt and skepticism, and it is powerful. Every time we see God come through as we step out in faith it sets a standard and a high water mark in our life. So then to stay in faith I believe that we have to keep on getting more radical and trusting him with more. In my life three years ago God challenged me to give a significant amount to missionaries each month and test his faithfulness to provide for me. Money was so tight, but God gave me the faith for it and He met absolutely every single need that year. Then the next year he said “David, I have been there and supplied every need, can you trust me to give more through you?”.
And my faith grew.
Each year God challenges me to trust him with more and more. It’s a beautiful and exciting thing. I just encourage every one of you to grow that mustard seed of faith. Step out in trust and see how powerful God is.
1 John 5:4
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world-
our faith.
