Faith for Another - Daily Devotional January 30, 2010

Daily Bible Reading - Genesis 31, Mark 2, Esther 7, Romans 2

Faith for Another

In Mark 2 we see a crowd gathering at a house where Jesus was staying. People were coming from all over to see Jesus and to hear His teaching. Four men, filled with faith for their friend to be healed climbed onto a roof, ripped it open and lowered their paralyzed friend down to Jesus. These four men were not streaming to the house to see if Jesus could meet their needs, they were there for the sake of a friend.

In Esther 7 we see Esther go before the King on behalf of her people. As we have read through this book we have come to realize that this was a very risky thing for her to do. She fasted, prayed and stepped out in faith risking her life to save her people. Esther was not going before the king for her sake, rather for the sake of others.

We go before the Lord's presence every day through prayer and worship. Every weekend when we go to church we experience His presence. While reading today's bible reading I had to ask myself, when I find His presence am I going with requests for myself and my issues or am I going with faith for another? Are my eyes so focused on my needs that I am not seeing all those around me that are desperate for the Lord to move in their lives? Do I have enough faith to believe that as I bring my friends and the people in my city before the Lord in prayer that He is big enough to not only work in their lives but in my life as well?

Philippians 2:3-5 says, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."

Galatians 6:7-10 says, "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."

According to these scriptures, when we have faith or another like the friends of the paralytics and Esther, we are having the same mind that Christ has. When we sow prayers and actions for others we will reap from what we have sown if we do not give up.

Lift up your eyes today, see the needs all around you, have faith for another and know that as you sow into another's life the Lord will work on your behalf.

Tomorrow's Bible Reading - Genesis 32, Mark 3, Esther 8, Romans 3

Dream Big,
Katie