DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT TUESDAY - THE FOUNDATION OF FAITHFULNESS. Part 1.

Don’t' waste your time waiting and longing for large opportunities which may never come. But faithfully handle the little things that are always claiming your attention. - F.B. Meyer.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. - Heb 10:19 -25.

An old seaman said, "In fierce storms we can do but one thing. There is only one way (to survive; we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there."

Commenting on this idea, Richard Fuller wrote… “This, Christian, is what you must do. Sometimes, like Paul, you can see neither sun nor stars, and no small tempest lies on you. Reason cannot help you. Past experiences give you no light. Only a single course is left. You must stay upon the Lord; and come what may, winds, waves, cross seas, thunder, lightning, frowning rocks, roaring breakers, no matter what, you must lash yourself to the helm and hold fast your confidence in God's faithfulness and his everlasting love in Christ Jesus.” – Source Unknown.

We know our God is faithful, and we know we are not as good at faithfulness, as we would want to be, so there must be some real “How-to-do-it” instructions in the Bible, for being faithful, and being happy about it. In my humble opinion, I believe that these principles can be used to build our Foundation Of Faithfulness...

SINCE WE HAVE CONFIDENCE WE CAN DRAW NEAR

We don't always act as if we have confidence; in fact some Christians are afraid to draw near to God, this should never be! Our God is a God of grace, love, and acceptance, and we should forget what God has done for us... For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, - Titus 2:11.

Jesus Christ, that great God and our Saviour, who saves not only as God, much less as Man alone; but as God-man, two natures in one person. He loved us, and gave himself for us; and what can we do less than love and give up ourselves to him! Redemption from sin and sanctification of the nature go together, and make a peculiar people unto God, free from guilt and condemnation, and purified by the Holy Spirit. – Matthew Henry.

Jesus has become our life through faith in Him… For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. - Col 3:3-4. Our old life died with Jesus on the cross, and now we have a new life through faith in Him! Hallelujah!

He is our treasure; and where our treasure is, there is our hearts also. Christ lives in the heart of the Father; and as our hearts are in Him, we also sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. Christ is the life of our souls, and we live our lives through Him, because He lives! Hallelujah!

A.W. Tozer says that people who are crucified with Christ have three distinct marks:
1. They are facing only one direction,
2. They can never turn back, and
3. They no longer have plans of their own.

Faith in God, and in His word, gives us courage, and courage gives us confidence. We must also remember that this confidence is ours in Christ.… So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" - Heb 13:6. Hallelujah! What an awesome God we have! The word fear should never enter into our vocabulary!

Probably the greatest book on fear ever written in this country was by Basil King and the title was "The Conquest of Fear." Here is the quotation: "Go at it boldly, and you'll find unexpected forces closing round you and coming to your aid." Isn't that terrific? "Go at it boldly, and you'll find unexpected forces closing round you and coming to your aid."

Long before Basil King, Emerson said, "Do the thing you fear, and the death of fear is certain." You defeat worry and fear by filling your mind with the certain faith that you can do it. That is the best way to get rid of the worry and fear about those many things that are bothering you. Get out of yourself and do something about it, realising that your Heavenly Father says to you, "For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I will help you."

Loving Father, I thank you for my Lord and Saviour Jesus, and for the confidence that He gives me to draw near to you. Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to continue to grow in confidence and courage, in my walk with Christ. I ask this in the wonderful name of Jesus. Amen.

Let us have confidence in every situation that arises!

Be Encouraged.
GBYAY