I am in a Bible Study that is currently reading the book "Not a Fan." By Kyle Idleman. It's interesting, but there are a few areas that made me stop and pick up my Bible b/c the context of some verses seemed to be forgotten.
One of those passages that the author references, but doesn't truly expand/explain in context is Hebrews 11. He talks about how true Christ followers do things in faith and then simply moves on. I couldn't remember exactly what Hebrews 11 said, so after looking at the book, I opened my Bible to read it.
Here it is (for those who haven't read it, or may not remember what it's about): (NIV)
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a fatherbecause he considered him faithful who had made the promise.
12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.
14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamedto be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,
18 even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."
19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.
23 By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.
26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak,Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.
35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.
37They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated--
38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.
40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
That first verse is one I've heard many times, and the rest of it seems like a VIP list of Bible heavy hitters. Everyone from Cain to Rahab is praised for following God's plans. When reading it, I couldn't help but marvel at the faith of these people (and feel a little inferior in my own faith walk). But then the last 2 verses hit me even harder:
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.
40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
These people are all Bible MVPs now. In hind sight, we praise their great faith and wish we too could be as awesomely Godly as them. The second half of verse 39 is where the true conviction comes in: "NONE OF THEN RECEIVED WHAT HAD BEEN PROMISED".
They were ordinary people who acted in extraordinary faith. They didn't have ANY idea what they were doing, they didn't have ANY idea what was going to happen next, they didn't have ANY idea how God was going to show up in their situation, but they ACTED in faith anyway.
That is what makes them different than me-They ACTED in faith anyway.....So many times I ask God to SHOW me something, so I can know what to DO next. But God asks me to just DO. He shouldn't have to SHOW me anything before I DO what I know He's commanded. If I am acting in faith, as I am called, then no "showing" from God should even be requested.
And the next verse brings the 2 in the 1-2 punch: "God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."
God's plan is Better, that is one of those Christian cliche's we tend to throw around when our plans don't work out. The second half of that verse is even more powerful: "ONLY TOGETHER WITH US would they be made PERFECT." So, no matter what God has planned for me, it's not only better than my plans, but it's going to be made perfect when I have faith that God is with me.
Now, how does all of this tie into my struggle and challenge to "Be Still"? It doesn't say WHEN it will be made perfect. I am sure those people who were stoned to death didn't feel like that was a perfect plan, until Jesus met them in that moment and ushered them into heaven.
Having faith in God's plan involves Being Still in His presence and surrendering to His timing.
So, as I read and pray Psalm 46 today, I know that for me, Being Still means completely surrendering to God's timing. That is something I have always struggled with. I don't need to know all of the answers, or the plan for what comes next; All I need to know is My God. He promises to take care of the rest, if I can simply Have Faith, Be Still, and Know Him.
Psalm 46
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth. A song.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
