S176P2 – His pleasure in His people: those who walk by faith

Heb. 11:5-6

By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken 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.

I was helping someone take a personality quiz, and one of the questions asked how he typically makes decisions.  The question assumed that one could take a practical approach to decision-making or an impractical one.  I think that many people would not think twice about the way this question was posed because these two ways of making decisions seem to cover all the bases.  Either one thoughtfully considers a choice or simply jumps in.  For the Christian, however, it is more complex than that.  The reason is that we are not taught to make decisions simply based on what we see or know.  For us, we also must consider that which we believe.

The testimony of Enoch was that he pleased God with his faith.  This goes beyond simply believing that the Lord is who He says He is.  This passage tells us that there is a second part to our faith, which is the belief that God rewards those who seek him in earnest.  I know that I have been guilty of confessing my faith in God but then living only in the natural and not believing him for blessing or relief.  It is the state of allowing one’s perspective to be driven by circumstance and appearances instead of by what we receive from God through faith or what He has said.  While I do not believe that it pleases God for us to be impetuous or thoughtless and disregard practical considerations, they must bow to our faith. 

The great testimony of pleasing God by having strong faith is that the world sees how God works through those who live by faith and not by sight.  This glorifies him and opens the door for others to draw near to him.  This is why it is so important to confess our faith to others when we believe that God will do what appears to be impossible.  People need to see that we believe in his goodness and his reward, and they need to see what we receive as the fruit of our faith.  Confess that you believe He will make a miraculous way, and wait for him to show your faith to be true.  Father, show us the areas in which we do not live by faith so that we can grow and learn to please You and glorify You more.