WALKING BY FAITH

But He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and He promised that He would give it to him as a possession, and to his seed after him, even when he had no child. Acts 7:5 

Having read through the historical account of the history of the nation of Israel in Genesis through Second Kings, it is fascinating to read Stephen’s overview of that history in Acts 7. We know that God called Abraham to leave his country and go to a land that was not yet his. But the way Stephen describes it in verse 5 emphasizes that Abraham really was walking by faith the entire time; not just when he left, but even as he arrived in the Promised Land that was not yet his. In fact, the writer of Hebrews reminds us, “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (11:13). It is this example of walking by faith that God calls us to emulate. 

God calls parents to bring up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). God calls pastors to preach the word with great patience and teaching (2 Tim. 4:2). God calls employees to do what is right, even if they suffer for it (1 Peter 2:20). At times it might seem like God’s method is not working. It is easy to consider an easier or more effective method that will bring the results we want. In those moments, will we turn to the ideas of man, or will we continue to walk by faith and trust God to keep His promises as He always has?  

Joshua Steiner