This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith?”
Matthew 6:25 – 30
I recall, from my childhood a peculiar experience that was seared into my conscious. Though I was unaware at the time, it would have a significant impact on me in later years.
If you read through my first article, New Beginnings, you may recall that I was a “Military Brat” – that is, I am the son of a career soldier. As such, we were not exactly made of money and as a family of four, frequently found ourselves stretching our finances to ensure that needs were met and bills were paid.
We needed a new, second vehicle and I witnessed my parents praying about this and lifting this need before the Throne of Grace for some time before I’d witness the answer to their prayers… and witness it I did!
You see, my parents were plying a simple, yet easily overlooked principle illustrated throughout the breadth of scripture; the principle that there is no detail, no circumstance so small or insignificant as to escape the notice of the God of the Universe! It didn’t matter, and never has, how small our issues may seem in the grand scheme of things – He is aware and is exceedingly able to meet our needs…
One morning, my mother approached my father and told him that the Lord had shown her our new car. My father’s eyebrows perked. She told him that it was at a dealership in a town more than an hour from where we lived at the time. My father, far from dismissive, looked into it and found that there was indeed a large dealer in the town that was, in fact, currently hosting a considerable sale.
That following Saturday, we piled in my mother’s failing Plymouth Valiant and headed out – on faith – to trade it in. When my brother or I asked what we were getting to replace it, my mother told us “I’ll know it when I see it. I only know its green.”
We finally arrived at the town, but struggled to locate the lot. There was a dealership, but the lot which had reportedly been filled to capacity, had only a few vehicles in it.
“This can’t be the place,” my father said, “their advertisement said the lot was packed.”
After pondering a bit, we finally pulled in to ask if we were at the right place. Sometime after wandering about the property, a man finally approached and asked if he could help. My parents explained that they had come looking for the packed lot they’d seen advertised, but weren’t sure they were in the right place.
The man assured us that we were in the right place, but indicated that most of their inventory had been moved for a “sales expo” (or similar terminology). It was taking place in a mall just down the street, so down the street we went. Not even ten steps into the mall and my mother looked at my father and exclaimed: “Oh my God! There it is!”
That very afternoon, we bid farewell to the old Valiant and climbed into a brand-spanking-new green Plymouth Volare Station Wagon.
You remember the car from the movie Vacation? Yeah… it was pretty much that.
We all teased one another about the car, but in truth, that thing was a Sherman Tank. It saw us through countless road-trips, family vacations, shuttled my brother and I back and forth to school and hauled countless loads of groceries from the commissary.
We occasionally heard reports about our model-year being “lemons” or experiencing a multitude of issues, but not our faithful green-machine. Like I said, ours was a tank! God had not sent my parents to purchase a Volare – He sent them to purchase that Volare. He did so knowing full-well that it would serve all our needs, be faithful and reliable, requiring minimal maintenance. He knew that it would serve us for the better part of a decade before becoming a blessing to another family in need of a second vehicle.
In short, that ugly green car was a gift that gave to my family continually and ultimately blessed others as well.
The purpose for the preceding stroll down memory lane is that this story illustrates an important principle – that of believing God. Note that I didn’t say ‘believing in God” – I said “believing God”.
Big difference.
My mother could have awakened from her dream about a car and dismissed it. My father could have rolled his eyes and dismissed it. Either one could have balked at the idea of driving an hour away when there were options closer to home… they could have taken any number of approaches, but the one they chose was one of faith.
For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4:3
God says He will provide for our needs. He says nothing escapes His notice and that He will attend to our needs.
Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. Even all the hairs on your head are numbered. So do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:29 – 31
The point is this; believe God. Believe Him for provision – believe Him for purpose.
Are you called? Are you chosen?
Maybe the vision and calling given you seems huge or overwhelming. Perhaps the circumstances you find yourself presently facing seem insurmountable or you simply cannot see how any of this would turn favorably. Would God call you and appoint you to a task you’re destined to fail at?
The world would have you believe so – they would have you mire your thinking in worldly issues and “realism” based on present circumstance. You can listen to the world and subjugate your will to circumstance, or you can choose to forge ahead and believe God.
Know up front, that the pages of scripture are littered with the feats of those who trusted, in spite of a given circumstance; Noah, Abraham, Joseph, David… just to name a few.
Is belief enough?
No, not really.
If that surprises you, allow me to clarify my meaning:
So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works. You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.
James 2:17 – 19
There are a number of ways in which this passage can be rightly interpreted and applied (without taking it out of context), but what I want to highlight is that this passage points to a principle; faith – real faith – predicates action:
- By faith, Noah built a boat in a world that had never seen rain…
- By faith, Abraham claimed for himself and his descendants an exceedingly good land…
- By faith, Joseph rose to become the second-most powerful man in all Egypt…
- By faith, Moses led Israel out of Egypt and out of their bondage…
- By faith, Joshua led Israel across the Jordan and took the promised land…
- By faith, David slew Goliath with a sling and five smooth stones…
- By faith, Elijah closed up the sky, raised the dead and called down holy fire…
- By faith, Hananyah, Misha’el and ‘Azaryah survived the fiery furnace…
- By faith, the disciples of Yeshua (Jesus) healed and cast out demons…
- By faith, Simon Peter walked on water…
I could go on, but I think you get the point. In every example, the belief of the individual led to action which made their faith apparent. By action, the power of the Sovereign King of the Universe was made manifest.
Scripture tells us that we are “… able to do all things through the one (Christ / Messiah) who strengthens me (us).” (Philippians 4:13) What good is this if we don’t actually do something with it? I readily concede that the context of that quotation is in the endurance of suffering, but let me ask; is this any less miraculous or spectacular?
You may be tempted to answer “yes”, and I grant you that calling down fire would certainly have more immediate impact, but the sufferings of the Apostles, and in this case Paul, left a legacy that has spanned nearly two millennia. Think about that for a moment.
The crux of all of this is to symbolically throw down the gauntlet of faith.
Let’s actually be the body of Messiah – let’s actually be His hands and feet. Let’s look after the poor, the widow and the orphan. Let’s actually bless those who curse us. Let’s take Him at His word and act on it. Let’s lay down our preconceptions and follow Him. Let’s obey Him, even when the world calls it nonsense.
Maybe this means starting small (Zechariah 4:10). Maybe humble beginnings lead to greater faith and greater action. Maybe in being faithful with little, we will be entrusted with much. Who knows, in the process we may just see sight restored to the blind and the leper healed. We may just see the dead returned to life. Who knows, maybe we’ll see holy fire…
“… as for me and my household, we will serve יהוה.”
Joshua 24:15 (CJB, excerpted)
שלום עליכם – Shalom Aleichem – Peace Be Upon You