| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Living by faith” Our Bible verse for today: “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 (CSB) Our thought for today: “He rewards those who seek Him” “A long obedience in the same direction” is a life principle that has been around for ages. It simply means that to succeed in any area of life we have to be committed to it and we have to apply ourselves to it over the long-term. More than forty years ago Pastor Eugene Peterson wrote a book by that title in which he showed us how to apply that principle to the Christian life. The Christian life is not an endless series of ecstatic mountaintop spiritual experiences. Instead, it consists of daily discipline and discipleship. It is the steady and repeated practice of basic spiritual disciplines, applied on a daily basis, which help us to stay spiritually healthy and to grow. It’s the habit of beginning each day with a quiet time of prayer, Bible study, and devotions (and doing so even if you’re tired and even if don’t feel like doing it). A long obedience in the same direction also consists of things like faithful attendance at the gatherings of your church family; participation in acts of ministry; and intentionally sharing your faith with others; all participated in on a regular and consistent basis. It’s an act of the will. We do it precisely because we have made a decision to believe in God and to trust Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. We do it because we want to know Him better and we want to please Him. The first step to living by faith is to trust Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. The second step is to incorporate the practices of the faith into your life. Make them part of your daily routine. This is the gift you have to offer God; this is what you bring to Him – your heart, and the daily demonstration of your faith in Him. I encourage you to make it your habit to demonstrate your faith to God by spending time with Him daily. Don’t allow excuses or distractions to deter you. In return, He will honor your faithfulness. Remember, as Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, He rewards those who seek Him. God bless, Pastor Jim |
| Copyright © 2022 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved. |
-
Follow
Following
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Oak Hill Baptist Church 