Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Living By Faith
Date: Saturday January 07, 2012
Today's Chapters: Genesis 24-25
Preview of Today's Message: God wants us to trust only Him to give us the things He promises, we must get to the point where we are completely dependent upon God and know that only by our faith in Him can we receive them. All Scripture quoted from the King James Version.

Hello My Friend,

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” - Galatians 2:20. Right now, this is my favorite verse in the Bible, I quote it often, even have it pinned on my wall to remind me that the trials I go through are not mine alone, but Christ's too, who lives inside of me. I may not understand all that I am going through, I may feel like I am all alone and no one understands me, but I have enough faith in me to know that Christ is with me and as long as I keep reminding myself of that everything is going to work out just fine.

We learn a lot about living by faith through the people God brings to our attention in the Bible, from kings to servants, God blessed all of them as they were living by faith. By faith, Abraham, who thought it was time for Isaac to have a wife, sent his servant to his family in the town of Nahor to find a wife for his son. This servant embarked on a journey that only by faith in God could he have accomplished, not knowing who he was looking for he trusted in God to lead him to the woman that would become Isaac's wife. “And he said O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water: And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.” - Genesis 24:12-14.

Whether we are doing things for ourselves or others it is wise to seek God for guidance, in fact, it is the only way you can know that you are even doing the right thing. Especially when it comes to choosing the person you are going to marry. History proves that when we seek God for guidance in every area of our lives we always see the best outcome. “Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.” - Isaiah 48:17.

The servant found Rebekah just as he had prayed and she willingly came to meet her future husband. This woman also embarked on a journey that only by faith could she have accomplished. Traveling to meet a man that she never met, wondering if she was doing the right thing or that he would even receive her. Isaac did receive Rebekah and she became his wife. “And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.” - Genesis 24:63-67.

Often our journeys are by faith, we really never accomplish anything unless we have faith in what we are doing, without faith it is definitely impossible to have a relationship with God, and let me tell you without faith it is impossible to even please God. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” -Hebrews 11:6.

Isaac, was forty years old he when he and Rebekah were married, he was well aware that he was the promised seed that would start the generations of God's people. Isaac begged God for a child and for almost twenty years his wife was barren, finally they were blessed with twins. “And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.” - Genesis 25:21-26.

Sometimes God will bless us with the things He promises us right away, but quite often He waits a while, I imagine that most of the waiting comes from our faith in God and our ability to live in His will while we are waiting. Sometimes it takes years before we are ready to receive the promise God has made for us, but He never goes back on His promises. The reason many people think that God has not fulfilled His promises is because they stopped believing that they would happen. Jesus explains why we do not do some things. “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” - Matthew 17:20,21.

Sometimes a lot of prayer and fasting, which means giving up some things, is what is needed for God to give us the things He promises. How do we fast God's way? Jesus said, “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” -Matthew 6:16-18.

Often we get in the way of God's plans, which can also delay us from receiving His promises. God told Rebekah that she was carrying two nations inside of her, meaning that they would both be rulers of a nation, but the first born twin would be weaker and serve his younger brother. Now, as the children grew, Isaac favored Esau, since Esau was the first born, he had birthrights to the family, which included, among other things, being heir to the covenant that God had made with Abraham. This birthright would be the link in the line of descendants through which the Promised Messiah was to come. However, it was the younger son, Jacob, that God had chosen to make His covenant with, in a cunning way Jacob got Esau to sell his birth right.

“And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.” - Genesis 25:29-34.

Esau is a type of the man of the earth, in many respects a nobler man than Jacob, yet the fact that he was destitute of faith caused him to despise his birthright, easily giving it up for a mere bowl of soup. God’s choice of His children does not depend on their character, or even what family they have come from, but their faith. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” -Galatians 3:26.

Today's Psalm: “Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.” - Psalm 101:6.

Today's Proverb: “A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” -Proverbs 28:20.

Today's Prayer: God, by faith, we look to You for strength today and a bright hope for tomorrow. Help us to turn our hearts toward heaven so that we seek Your approval and blessing above the temporal thrills this world has to offer. May we perish every fond ambition, all we’ve sought, and hoped and known in exchange for the glories of heaven where we will reign with You forevermore. Help us to grow in faith as we serve You and never give up on any of the promises that You have made for us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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