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Weekly Devotion
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Why do
you beliave that?
By Peggy Horne
I say this not to judge. How can I when I don’t
know your or anyone else’s story. I say this
because very few people have been able to answer
the question when asked “Why do you believe
that?” I also was one of those people. In fact,
it wasn’t until I met a man who refused to
believe anything anyone said to him till he
searched it out for himself that I began to
question my own belief system.
A friend
of mine was told that our "religion" is anti-scientific, and this is what
she had to say about that. “I wonder if the person that said that knows more
science than Einstein? or Newton? They were believers. Einstein writes; "If
we cleanse the Judaism of the prophets and Christianity as Jesus has taught
it from what came afterwards, especially from priest craft, we have a
religion which can save the world from all social evils. It is the holy duty
of every man to do his utmost to bring this religion to triumph." And let’s
not forget the great physiologist, Pavlov, he too was a Christian....Even,
Marx, in his preface to Das Kapital, said that," Christianity, especially in
its protestant form, is the ideal religion for remaking characters destroyed
by sin." How can we say such things when very often we know very little
about what we are speaking?
Science, politics and other belief systems in today’s world are
rarely a question of "how" or “why” and more of a religion that its
followers follow blindly. Politicians are voted for based on party and not
the individual, the absence of god is considered science and vice versa.
Without consideration of the details how can you truly know what we are
choosing? On the other hand the study of individuals will reveal character.
To search out such things like natural sciences will only reveal to you a
great designer, prove that things are so much more than they seem and are
waiting there for us to search for the answers so they or rather He can be
discovered. Blind faith is not faith at all, be it in any type of belief
system. Rather, it is a choice to not choose, but to let others choose for
us and this can be very dangerous.
As children we must allow others to make decisions for us because we lack
the understanding and ability to reason, but as we become adults, we are
then able to take responsibility for our own choices because we now have the
ability to make them and deal with the consequences. If we continue to
choose to let others think for us, we give our freedom over to someone else.
This is when we choose to be a slave and not free. This is how I see the
norm in our world today. My heart aches when I whiteness people choosing
this life and I am saddened when I look back at my own past and see how I
could be so blind to what I was doing to myself.
However, there is freedom in knowledge and wisdom. God said in
Isaiah, “Come let us reason together”
Isaiah 1:18 and proverbs is full of
advice on making healthy choices for our life by searching out wisdom for
ourselves. The reality is that, when we are able, we are responsible for
every choice we make, even if that choice is to let someone else choose.
Most of us have a freedom that we must learn to not only be thankful for,
but to use to free our own minds from laziness and ignorance. To be able to
stand up for what we believe because we fully understand and know what
exactly what that is, and finally to be able to answer the question when
someone asks us, “Why do you believe that?” After all, God Himself tells us
to be ready with an answer when we are asked.
"For
I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not
to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think
soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. " _
Romans 12:3
KJV
I
have been so blessed to have grown an abundance of faith in my life. This
has come not through ignorance which is believing what I do not understand
or wishful thinking. No, my faith has grown through Our Lord God proving
Himself and His promises to me amidst countless trials that have challenged
me to step out in hope and trust in the God I am coming to know and cherish.
The Bible
tells us that "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:20). Recently I have
felt the Lord leading me in helping others to grow in their faith. He has
called us all to take the "Faith Challenge". The steps are simple enough
since God does most of the work as usual. All we have to do is to spend time
learning of who He is and what He says he will do for us. Then just claim
these promises for ourselves and follow His instruction for our lives then
act on those promises and instruction as though the Lord has already
provided because the simple truth is He already has. He will never fail us.
Many times it is we who fail to receive that which God has already provided
because we do not grab those promises and instruction and use them as they
are intended. We are to be moved to action when the knowledge of God's
faithfulness is revealed to us, not to sit back and wait as though there was
something more needed.
God has
set his Word for us to use. The power within it is already there waiting to
be utilized by God's children as they trust in Him and use the faith
provided to them. This is an assurance I have come to know so well and I
encourage anyone that will hear to take this “Faith Challenge” and share it
with others. It will be one of the best things you can ever do for your
relationship with the God who loves you so much.
Give and
it will be given to you
Good
morning said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on the ground. The
man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer
things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a
meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him,
like so many others had done before......
"Leave
me alone," he growled....To his amazement, the woman
continued
standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling
rows. “Are you hungry?" she asked.
"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the
president. Now go away."
The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand
under his arm.
"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me
alone. Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he
asked.. "No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to
get this man to his feet. Will you help me? “The officer scratched his head.
"That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years.
What do you want with him?"
"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something
to eat and get him out of the cold for a while.” “Are you crazy, lady?" the
homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong
hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do
anything."
"This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it.”
Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack
into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the
middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and
the lunch bunch had not yet arrived...The manager strode across the
cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked.
"What is all this, is this man in trouble?"
"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered. “Not
in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is
bad for business. “Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you
so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place.
“The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled....... "Sir, are you
familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"
"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly
meetings in one of my banquet rooms. “And do you make a goodly amount of
money providing food at these weekly meetings? “What business is that of
yours? “I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company. “OH.
“The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She
glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle.
"Would you like to join us in a meal, officer?" "No thanks, ma'am," the
officer replied. "I'm on duty." "Then, perhaps, a cup something to go?"
"Yes, ma’am. That would be very nice. “The cafeteria manager turned on his
heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer. “The officer
watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said. “That
was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this. “She sat
down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him
intently.
"Jack, do you remember me?" Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy
eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar." "I'm a little older
perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days
when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry.
“Ma’am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a
magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry. “I was just out
of college," the woman began.
"I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything.
Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my
apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and
nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I
could get something to eat. Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he
said.. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you
could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."
"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef
sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go
over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into
trouble... Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in
the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right." "So you
started your own business?" Old Jack said.
"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started
my own business that, with the help of God, prospered."
She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished
here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director
of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something
for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find
the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and
get a place to live until you get on your feet... If you ever need anything,
my door is always opened to you."
There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.
“Don’t thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank
Jesus...... He led me to you. “Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the
woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways..."Thank you
for all your help, officer," she said. “On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he
answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, Something that I will never
forget.
Give and
it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and
running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you
use, it will be measured back to you.” _ Luke 6:38
