This morning I felt like I needed a little “faith building”. So I turned to Hebrews 11 to find the help I needed. There I discovered people of faith most often did things they really did not want to do. Let me explain …
Noah could not have wanted to build an ark when it had never rained on the planet before. He did not know what a flood could possibly do to the earth. Throw in everyone making fun of him and surely this was not what he had aspired to do with his life. But he did.
Abraham could not have desired to sacrifice his only son, whom he had waited for years to be born. But he did.
Moses could not have wanted to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. This was something he tried to avoid, making excuses to God. Yet he did and led a grumbling people through the wilderness for 40 years. But he did.
The Israelites must have found it a little strange to be told to march around Jericho for seven days in order to defeat their enemies. But they did.
Paul surely could not have wanted to be stoned, shipwrecked, beaten, and imprisoned in order to establish churches and preach the gospel. But he did.
John could not have wanted to be the last of the disciples alive when all in his close band of brothers were dead. He could not have wanted to be exiled to the island of Patmos. But he was.
As I thought on this today, I realized God often asks us to do things we may not want to do or even feel like doing. But we need to do them anyway. We need to obey out of our love and devotion to God. And this is for our own good. We cannot be divided in our loyalty. We cannot waver. In writing about prayer, James tells us what happens when we are divided or waver:
Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
(James 1: 6b-8 NLT)
Having a divided loyalty to God costs us. Our lives become marked by an unsettledness. We are tossed around by every opinion and trend. We don’t receive anything from the Lord. We become unstable in all that we do in life. At times, we are going to be called to do things we just do not feel like doing. It is then we will decide if we are going to obey or go our own way. Are we going to follow Him not knowing the outcome but believing that He does?
A funny thing happened to those who chose to do what they did not want to do….
Noah and his family were saved when the flood came as they entered the very thing he probably did not want to build.
Abraham received back his son and went on to become the father of many.
Moses led God’s people to the Promised Land.
Paul went on to establish many churches and write much of our New Testament.
John, last disciple standing, received a vision which was recorded and became the last book of our Bibles, Revelation.
In an odd way, I did find my faith built up this morning. My faith found a rest in Him. May He align my “want to’s” with His will and purposes.
Often the greatest outcome is achieved in that moment
when we don’t want to but do it anyway.
Today I am joining … Trekking Thru the Week and #RaRaLInkup and Teaching What Is Good and Tea & Word Tuesday .
I have heard Hebrews 11 called the Hall of Faith. And when you read it you know why. I imagine taking time to re-read that this morning reminded you how God uses others for his glory but how saying “yes” in faith can lead to big things.
Mary, so very true. We often think the “yes’es” should come easily but they are often the hardest. May we just do them, easy or not, whether we want to or not. Always for His glory. I so appreciate your thoughts!
Wow, you are really bringing the Word to life and new life to the Word here, Joanne. I appreciate this encouragement to obey God, even when He asks us to do things we don’t REALLY want to do…
Betsy, it was eye opening to me. We may not always want to obey (much like children) but may we bow our knee and do so – yes, even when we don’t want to. Blessings!
Trekking Thru 😉
Yes, I really need to work on my self-discipline muscle!
We all do – each and every day. Otherwise we get flabby faith muscles!
Thanks Joanne.
Like you, I needed a faith shot today, and your post was just the medicine I needed.
May I leave a little of the medicine [ gospel capsules] that helps me, to bless you?
Ephesians 1.2 T.P.T. May God himself, the heavenly Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
release grace over you and impart total well-being[c] into your lives.
3 John 1 2 Beloved friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way[d] and that you continually enjoy good health, just as your soul is prospering.
Colossians 1 11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,[c]12 always thanking the Father.
“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, NLT)
Love, Mary.
Mary, I loved your gospel capsules! And they encouraged me deeply, especially Ephesians 1:2. Such beautiful imagery of God releasing grace over us and imparting total well-being. So grateful for you! xo
What a great post with lots of insight! I’ve often found that my lack of “want to” is directly related to my need to.