DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT: Faith Walks

Faith is the refusal to panic. -- David Martyn Lloyd-Jones
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Heb 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

FAITH WALKS AROUND THE ENEMY
God commanded Israel to bring down the walls of Jericho. They were ordered to march around the walls once a day for seven days together and seven times on the last day. The seven priests were to carry the seven trumpets going before the Ark of the Covenant when they marched around the city, and then they should blow them and sound a longer blast than before, then all the people should shout, and the walls of Jericho would fall before them, and by faith the walls came tumbling down.

Josh 6:20 When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city.

This was an immense test of their faith. The manner in which the order was given seemed impossible and would almost certainly expose them to the daily derision of their enemies; the ark would also appear to be in danger. But this was the way God commanded them to capture Jericho, and He loves to do enormous things by small and contemptible behaviour, so that the impossible would become possible!

Israel walking around their enemies reminds us to walk around our enemy in faith
We can demonstrate our faith by our commitment to it, and in no other way. Any belief that does not command the one who holds it is not a real belief; it is only a counterfeit belief. And it might shock some of us deeply if we were brought suddenly face to face with our beliefs and forced to test them in the fires of practical living.

The greatest testimony to following Jesus is not how far a Christian can logically analyse their reasons for believing, but how far in practice they will stake their life on His belief. To believe in Jesus is to believe in someone who will always be far beyond us, who will forever be presenting a new aspect of Himself to us.

Loving Father, I thank you that you are there for me when my faith is tested. Help me Lord, to walk around my enemies and to put my faith into practice, so that in you the impossible would become possible and your name would be glorified. In Jesus mighty name I pray. Amen.