Exercise your faith through obedience. Daily Devotional - February 15, 2010

Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 48, Luke 1:35-80, Job 14, 1 Corinthians 2
　
　
It’s hard for one with a western mindset to absorb the fact that simple faith is one of the surest way to please God. Hebrews 11:6 states, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

In Luke chapter 1 Mary had an encounter with the Angel of the Lord who had told her she would birth the Son of God. Mary runs to Elizabeth’s house and as soon as Elizabeth sees her, the baby Elizabeth was carrying leaped in her womb and she began to prophesy blessings upon Mary. She exclaims: (verse 45) "Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." Before Mary could even tell Elizabeth the story, God began to speak through Elizabeth to deliver Mary a message. God was so pleased with her faith that He had to make sure that was the first thing she heard when she got to Elizabeth's house. He wanted her to know that she was blessed because she believed.

There was a blessing that rested on Mary because she believed what God spoke to her was going to come to pass. We have the same opportunity as Mary did to be blessed by God and to please Him with our faith. The promises of His word are incredible but always require an attitude of faith. For example; tithing is an act of faith. As I watch a check for 10% of our income go in the offering bucket, it requires faith to know that God is going to honor the promises of His word. His word says that if I tithe, He will open up the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that I can’t even contain it. So I choose to have more faith in God than I do in my finances.

I recently have felt that God was telling me to give up coffee (hopefully this is only for a season). When I asked Him why, I felt Him convict me that many times I have more faith and confidence in that cup of coffee in the morning (to bring me energy or lift me up) than I do in Him. It is not a matter of coffee being sinful or bad, but it is His jealousy for my FAITH.

Mary exercised her faith by declaring to the Angel of the Lord (verse 38) "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Mary’s heart was yielded to the plans of God. Her heart responded with faith through the willingness to obey; and therefore she was used by God.

For our western mindset that wants to know what to DO: exercise your faith through obedience. Every time you obey what God has told you to do, you are confessing that your faith remains more in Him and His word than anything of this world.

Please Him with your FAITH today!
Mel