BORDERS TO BLESSINGS
How has your faith grown over the years? Do you still possess a baby faith? Or has your faith matured? Maybe your faith has died. In Moses' day, as the children of Israel moved from Egypt to the Promised Land, they went through three stages of faith. Let us see which stage our faith is in today.
Stage one: The children of Israel went through the Red Sea Stage – A baby faith. After the miracle of the Passover lamb, it was a hallelujah experience for God miraculously delivered the people of Israel. However, immediately after that, they faced their first impossible barrier – the Red Sea. It was there God parted the waters, and they passed through on dry land. Then as the army of Pharaoh pursued Israel, they were destroyed when the water resumed its place. The people of Israel escaped, not because of what they did, but because of what God did.
To receive the victory, all the children of Israel had to do were stand and watch. Through no effort of their own God provided. When we are saved, our faith is small. We don't know about living by faith. We don't know about the promises of God and His assurances. In spite of ourselves, God moves in our midst, transforming us to His image.
Stage two: The Wilderness Stage -- A borderline faith. After passing through the wilderness, the children of Israel come to Canaan. They stand on the edge of the Promised Land. This time, instead of God simply pushing them on into the land that He had already promised them, they had to go and claim the land. This time they had to act. They had to be obedient for God to act. They had to take that first step of faith. Of course, you know the story of how they disobeyed and refused to go. They were still God's kids, but they missed God's best. They settled for good when God wanted them to experience GREAT.
This is where many of God's people find themselves. God says by faith be obedient and we say part the Red Sea first. Then, I will step out by faith. Yet, God calls this disobedience. Major Ian Thomas, a British military hero, became a great Christian writer, wrote this in his book, The Saving Life of Christ, "The Wilderness Christian means you neither enjoy the sweets of Egypt nor the milk and honey of Canaan instead you get dumped into the desert!"
Stage three: The Jordon River Stage – A land of blessings. When the children of Israel crossed over the Jordan, they took that leap of faith from good to great. God worked incredibly in their lives, but they had to cross the Jordan River first. To get to the land that flowed with milk and honey, they had to cross over. They had to walk by faith. So do we. The key is complete obedience to the will of God for your life.
Where are you on your journey of faith? Are you still at the Red Sea waiting for signs? Are you in the Wilderness unwilling to leave your comfort zone? Are you crossing over Jordan into the land of blessings? If you want to walk by faith, you have to follow Jesus.
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DAILY DEVOTIONALS
by Kristi Morgan
Godly Gossip
Spreading God's Word from
Person to Person
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