Living By Faith…
We did not get the expected snow in northern Colorado last night. It was colder and windy; but I was able to get the rest of my lawn mowed, perhaps for the last time. After my morning prayer time, where I had the opportunity to share a devotional on “Responding to Ridicule” – I had a workout with my fitness trainer. I was actually able to get in a “push up plank” position for the first time in almost two and a half years! It wasn’t perfect but I off both knees!
This afternoon a meeting cancellation allowed me to attend a planning meeting for next spring’s National Day of Prayer event for Northern Colorado. Even though I had a fairly good day, I “ran out of gas” toward the end of the day and had to beg off an evening meeting in Longmont.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “The evil nation is very proud of itself; it is not living as it should. But those who are right with God will live by faith.” Habakkuk 2:4 NCV
As the prophet looks at what the Lord is allowing the happen, he is confused and upset. The first two chapters of Habakkuk record the prophets complaint to the Lord and the Lord’s response. The final chapter we see a “prayer” of the prophet.
At the core of what God wants the prophet to understand is that regardless of what the situation is like; regardless of how difficult it is to understand what God is doing and why, “the righteous (those who are right with God) will live by faith.”
Living by faith means that I trust the Lord even though He permits evil. It means I trust the Lord and wait patiently even if the Lord uses those evil people to judge the righteous.
Living by faith requires humility. It is submission to the Lord and not exalting our understanding or our sense of justice to be the bottom line. The Lord says, “the evil nation is very proud of itself….” Righteousness is not equated with accomplishment and success. The Babylonians were fierce, mighty and successful. They were also proud and they in the end were humbled by the Lord that allowed them a season in history.
Living by faith is obeying God’s ways. The Lord says of the Babylonians, “…[they] are not living as [they] should.” Pride leads to a self directed and affirming life style. You live by the rules you make up for your own life. But there is a higher standard that is established and judged by God.
Paul refers to this verse twice in his letters. To the Romans he talks about the gospel revealing God’s righteousness and says, “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:17 NIV) The upside down world of Christ followers is that righteousness is not dependent upon human effort, it is determined by faith. That keeps us humble depending daily upon the Lord.
Paul writes to the Galatians about the same concept and says, “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Galatians 3:11 ESV)
The writer of Hebrews addresses believers who could identity with Habakkuk. They were facing faith-testing challenging times. Times of persecution, times of suffering, times of asking questions and I’m sure even complaining. These Christians are reminded of the words of the prophet from long ago, “For, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith…” (Hebrews 10:37,38 ESV) This verse and the on which follows then leads into the listing of God’s people of faith.
To Hababkkuk the Lord said, “It may seem like a long time, but be patient and wait for it, because it will surely come; it will not be delayed.” It is from these words of encouragement and the perspective of faith that Habakkuk would utter the familiar words, “I will wait patiently for the day of disaster that will come to the people who attack us. Fig trees may not grow figs, and there may be no grapes on the vines. There may be no olives growing and no food growing in the fields. There may be no sheep in the pens and no cattle in the barns. But I will still be glad in the Lord; I will rejoice in God my Savior. The Lord God is my strength. He makes me like a deer that does not stumble so I can walk on the steep mountains.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19 NCV)
Living by faith…it is trusting the Lord and being patient with the Lord’s plan for our life and our world. We may not understand or like what we see, but that doesn’t define what the Lord is doing. Our focus is to live by faith and regardless of the circumstances of life to “…be glad in the Lord;[and]….. rejoice in God my Savior.”