Example of faithful living
Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance—all who seek the Lord! Consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined. Yes, think about Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your nation. Abraham was only one man when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation.” The Lord will comfort Israel again and have pity on her ruins. Her desert will blossom like Eden, her barren wilderness like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found there. Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air.” Isaiah 51:1-3 From the text, Isaiah was appealing to the Israelites that they do not forget God’s faithfulness. He encouraged them to continue to seek living right before God by continually seeking Him. He called them to look back to specific realities that should remind them how God gave His people in the past comfort and guidance. They were reminded of how Abraham and Sarah had shown their trust and dependence upon God. Isaiah challenged them to remind themselves of their testimonies of their faith in God for this will encourage them to remain strong. They were hewn, so to speak, from the quarry of Abraham from which He led the patriarch. As Christians who are called upon to live right before God ought to not neglect nor overlook the examples of those that lived faithfully in the past. A strong awareness of this will help us be reminded of our identity. God’s blessings will be upon those who continue to seek Him and will live lives pleasing before Him. Such knowledge will strengthen us as we follow His will for our lives and confidence that though we do not know what the future holds we know that God is before us, leading us. The Scripture is rich with examples of people that found joy living their lives following God for they believed God; He is faithful and will always be true to His promises. Even more important is the challenge that we look upon our Lord Jesus Christ, “the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Our resolve to live a life of faithfulness to God could set an example and provide a heritage of faithfulness that will encourage the next generation. God will not leave us alone for He is there to guide us. His plan involves us, just as it has included each faithful follower of God throughout the centuries. Just like Abraham, our obedience today will provide a legacy of faithfulness to the generations that follow. Let us look ahead and take comfort to His promise that the God “who began the good work within us, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6).
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com
