" A Measure of Faith "

     The LORD JESUS talked about faith with many different analogies, stories and parables.  HE referred to some faith that was as small as a mustard seed; and even at that size it could move mountains.  I was studying the other night and a phrase jumped out at me and I knew then that I was going to be doing a blog about that phrase. When the phrase jumped out at me, I knew then it was time for a new blog and it is about faith.

     The phrase I am referring to is found in the book of Romans, chapter 12 verse 3 which says,   " For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly as GOD has dealt to each one  ' a measure of faith.' "   This phrase, as I said, struck me over and over again.  I reread it and reread it ! How many times do you study Scripture and there it is, a verse that you have read, how many times and this time it jumps off the page as if to say,  " See this, I want you to really see this ! "  Well that phrase is the title of this blog and the LORD spoke to me, not with audible words, but an intense need to understand what those wonderful words really mean.

     Faith, as you might imagine, is a very large and massive subject in Scripture. There are so many areas we can look at, so many people that the LORD has written about, with their faith or lack of faith as a glaring reminder to us of our own shortcomings and strengths.  One of my favorite men of the Old Testament was Joseph. WOW !  Think about it, he had 10 stepbrothers that hated him and GOD gave him dreams and he would tell the family about them and that made things even worse for him;  so bad in fact that his brothers faked his death and sold him into slavery.  But GOD doesn't leave us and HE didn't leave Joseph either. No matter what Joseph did and where he went as a slave, in prison or in the house of Pharaoh,  " the LORD was with him;  and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper." Nowhere in Scripture, within the story of Joseph, was there any mention of his blaming GOD, or being angry with GOD over his circumstances.  Even when he came face to face with the brothers that faked his death and sold him into slavery he had nothing but compassion on them.  They were so afraid that he would have them killed out of spite but instead he spoke to them these words,   " Joseph said to them,  ' Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of GOD ? But as for you, you meant evil against me, but GOD meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.' "

     Joseph was a young man of about late teens to 20 years old when he was sold by his brothers as a slave.  It was nearly 20 more years before he would see them again and the LORD strengthened his faith, little by little, trial by trial. Joseph could have become bitter against GOD but as I said, nowhere in Scripture when it talks about Joseph, did he lay the blame for his situation at the LORD's feet. Joseph may have not known what the " big picture " was but he knew the ONE WHO did and that was enough for him !

     We could look at so many of the Old Testament people and their walk with GOD. Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Job, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Noah, Abraham...... too many to name or go individually to each one and give their story in this post. But I do know of a chapter in the New Testament that summarizes the walk of faith for many of the people in Scripture.  Hebrews 11 is known as the " faith " chapter to those who study Scripture.  Let us take a look at what it has to say about faith and those who walked by it........

Hebrews 11-12:2   " Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the WORD of GOD, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. By faith Abel offered to GOD a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous. GOD testifying of his gifts;  and through it he being dead still speaks. By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see death,  ' and was not found because GOD had translated him ', for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased GOD.  BUT without faith it is impossible to please HIM, for he who comes to GOD must believe that HE is, and that HE is a rewarder of those who diligently seek HIM. By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen moved with Godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;  for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is GOD. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged HIM faithful WHO had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude -- innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

These all died in faith not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore GOD is not ashamed to be called their GOD, for HE has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, 'In Isaac your seed shall be called,'  accounting that GOD was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child;  and they were not afraid of the king's command. By faith Moses, when he became of age refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of GOD than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of CHRIST greater riches than the treasures in Egypt;  for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt not fearing the wrath of the king for he endured as seeing HIM WHO is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest HE WHO destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe when she had received the spies with peace. And what more shall I say ? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:  who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness,  obtained promises,  stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire,  escaped the edge of the sword,  out of weakness were made strong,  became valiant in battle,  turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mocking's and scourging's, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned,  they were sawn in two, were tempted,  were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented -- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains,  in dens and caves of the earth. And all these having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, GOD having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking unto JESUS , the AUTHOR and FINISHER of our faith, WHO for the joy that was set before HIM endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of GOD. "         Hebrews 11 - 12:2

     As I said,  " faith "  is such a huge subject to study in Scripture and without faith, as we saw, it is impossible to please GOD.  As Truly Born Again Believers / Saints in the LORD, we are in grand company;  but if you are like me, I feel very unworthy of even being mentioned in the same breath with those of Scripture.  They went through so much for their walk with the LORD and we, if we get a hangnail can't seem to get ourselves to a comfy church pew. Remember I am including myself in this scenario. As we see the Day approaching of our LORD's soon return, things may get a bit messy and uncomfortable for the child of GOD. We need to get our spiritual houses and our actual homes cleaned up. Get rid of anything that would defile your testimony for the LORD. Keep short sin lists. Also remember WHO the AUTHOR of your faith truly is; even our faith in the LORD is from HIM.

     Get right and get ready for whatever the LORD has coming our way whether it is to be the home going of HIS Bride the church  or  staying here  as witnesses to HIS grace and mercy through trials and testings.  The Apostle Paul was hard pressed between the two;  whether to stay here which was more needful for the new churches or to go and be with his LORD, which would be better for him. But that is something that we need not concern ourselves with because we will be here til the LORD deems it time to go home either by death or by the rapture.  Our job is to keep and contend for the  the faith, tell people about HIM and the Gospel of Salvation, teach, rebuke, exhort'  but the future is HIS to work out.  Remember:  " Faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (confidence) of things not (yet) seen. "  Hebrews 11:1

     I hope that you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed doing it. When I post a blog, for and about the LORD, I learn right along with you.  I am so glad that I have not yet attained perfection !  Hah, Hah, Hah, not in this life but in the one to come we will know as we are known, isn't that a grand thought !  Blessings !

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie