As I meditated on this scripture translation this morning, I
recalled a time many years ago when a few hungry believers had banded together
with the vision of a new and mighty work of God in our city. As we gathered on that Thursday night in the
living room of our house, we were expectant as to the Word that our interim
Pastor was to bring us. He spoke that particular
night on the exercising of our faith.
After laying down his foundation scriptures and the tenets
of his instruction, he paused and asked each of us sitting on couches, folding
chairs and on the floor if we were currently in active faith for something. I still can remember as clearly as if it was
yesterday as most of those in the room answered in the negative to his
question. I was in the midst of a new
business adventure that found my family and I believing God for many things and
in particular regular financial income!
It did strike me odd though, that the majority of the adults
in the room, most of whom I considered as strong Christian leaders, just kind
of shrugged their shoulders in reply to his inquiry. The ensuing encouragement that he shared with
us that night about our need to stay in faith was all brought back to me this
morning with the study of the above verse.
Paul is telling us here that our great expectations of the
abundant life of Jesus for us and others is that which fills us with all joy
and all peace, but that it only occurs through the exercise of our faith! Other translations state it as the “joy and peace of believing.” (KJV) It would seem then, that “believing” is an action word!
It is not just an understanding that we have, but an activity or exercise
that we pursue in life. The verse then
concludes by declaring that our joy and peace turns our expectations of the
abundant life of Jesus into an overflowing fountain that others can bask and be
refreshed in!
It reminds me of the little park in the old downtown area of
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma where we lived and attended Bible School, that had a
small children’s play area with a fountain in the middle of it. That small stream of water splashed onto a
flat cement area and became a mecca to young kids throughout the hot, humid
summer days that abounded in that area of the country. I would always find myself laughing at the
smiling faces of the kids and their Mom’s as they enjoyed the refreshing cool
water of the fountain that I observed while I drove by.
Our active, trusting exercise of believing God for the
various needs and/or prayers in our lives is like that refreshing fountain was
to those hot and thirsty kids! The
example of our living faith will draw those hungering and thirsting for answers
to the fountain of His love that flows from us.
Then all we have to do is to let them get wet and refreshed! That’s what I desired to be, a fountain used
of Him to quench the life thirst in those I come into daily contact with. How about you? Have a great weekend. Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking
yourself, “What am I expecting today?”
·
Romans
15:13 (The Letters of St Paul to Seven Churches and three friends with the
Letter to the Hebrews – Arthur S. Way)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your thoughts are welcomed. Please keep them within the context and flavor of this blog.