Articles
Have Faith
After preaching Finish God's Temple, I urged us to pray for and encourage men to be shepherds. Many times, I was asked if we would succeed. My response was simple: I don't know, but we should try because it's God's will for shepherds to lead his church. The process of selecting shepherds is an act of faith. We are obedient to God, placing our trust in him to bless our efforts, even when we don't know the outcome.
The letter to the Hebrews says faith "is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (11:1). The writer shows that those who lived with this assurance and conviction "received their commendation." (11:2). The author cites many examples of people who lived this way, such as Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and many others. It begins recounting Abraham's faith, saying, "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” (11:8) Another way of saying this is, "With the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, Abraham obeyed God, without knowing where he was going." Abraham went, trusting God to bless his obedience of faith. He did not know when or where God would provide his inheritance. He went trusting God, who "rewards those who seek him." He went in the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.
Joshua began the conquest of Canaan with the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. God gave Joshua the difficult job of conquest while leading the nation. God assured Joshua, saying, "No manshall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:5-7 ESV) Joshua began his work without knowing the details of God's plan. He knew God would be with him if he was "careful to do all the law that Moses my servant commanded you." God promised that if he followed the law, he would "have good success wherever you go."
These are not mere stories. They are living examples for us to emulate. If we are to be faithful to God and His Son, we must mirror our spiritual forefathers. We, too, must obey “in the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” We must trust that God will reward those who seek him.
How will the eldership process turn out? I don't know. Have faith in God, brothers, and sisters!
