Devotionals

Have Faith And Look Up

by Cheryl Weber
03/05/24
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The walk of faith can be rigorous. The apostle Paul faced a multitude of troubles that could have tempted him to give up or escape by returning to his past life as a Pharisee. But instead he declared, “Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”  Philippians 3:8 NLT. In that same passage, Paul determined to forget his past of religious pride and violence against Christians and press on toward his calling in Christ Jesus. (vs.12-14) And when he knew he would soon die a martyr, he declared he had kept the faith and would receive a crown of righteousness when Christ returns. 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Sometimes we feel like our faith is hanging by a thread while God seems to have abandoned us and his promises to us. Or maybe we are distracted by busyness and responsibilities that crowd out intimacy with our Savior. Perhaps we long for past days when life seemed simpler and more satisfying. 

But the Lord is fully present with us in each moment and wants us to live his abundant life today, to believe in his goodness, love, and faithfulness despite our circumstances. He remains faithful even when we feel faithless as Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:13. Paul also invites us to turn our eyes from what can discourage and look up, to set our minds and hearts on the eternal unseen with its great rewards, rather than this temporary world and its comparatively brief trials. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) We can remember that as Colossians 3:1-4  says, our real life is hidden with God in Christ who is seated above in the place of honor at the Father’s right hand and who will one day be revealed to the whole world.  

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I trust in you and your goodness no matter my situation, and I put my hope in you and in the wonderful future you’ve planned for me in heaven. AMEN.