The Life of Faith We’d Like to Have

“Now Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in every way.”  -Genesis 24:1

 

Abraham was one of the most blessed men the world has known.  When Abraham dies in Genesis chapter 25, verse 8 says he “died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life.”  Part of me asks, how could Abraham not be satisfied with life?  He was extremely wealthy, he had a beautiful wife, he had a close relationship with God, he had a healthy family, he knew his family was going to be blessed by God in the future, and he lived a long life.

I know that Abraham faced difficulties in his faith.  And I’m sure his wealth brought its own unique temptations.  But even in those difficulties, things always seemed to work out in the end.  In many ways, it seems a charmed life – close with God, and “blessed in every way,” as Genesis 24:1 says. 

Wouldn’t we love to have Abraham’s life of faith?  A few challenges along the way, but a life that walks with God and has tragedy-free happiness most of the time?  Most people’s reality is very different.  In fact, we find many people in the Bible who were expected to be faithful to God in spite of gut-wrenching circumstances:

 

 

A Faith That Overflows

…Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”

 –John 7:37-38

 

In his book “Evangelism through the Local Church,” one of Michael Green’s helpful definitions of evangelism really resonates with me.  It is one simple word: “overflow.”  Isn’t that the most natural way to view evangelism?  Someone so filled up with God and His love that they naturally reach out to others? 

 

I recently had the opportunity to preach on biblical baptism for 4 days at the Holly Hill church in Frankfort, KY.  Holly Hill is a great family of God’s people, and  I was blessed to meet many faithful, encouraging Christians.  But there are 2 in particular that will stick in my mind for awhile.