It Is Now Our Turn!

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***One of the great joys in my life is to try each day to encourage you in your day to day life. NEVER FORGET...THERE ARE NO DO-OVERS IN LIFE. We get one shot at this journey, and that is it. Even more important, it is a very short journey that can end at any moment. I want to encourage you today to go for all God gives you to do, with all that you have. Have the courage to LIVE your life with all that you have. MAKE YOUR LIFE COUNT FOR GOD!!!

DAILY DEVOTIONAL WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2002
(Hebrews 11)

What is faith? It is the confidant assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. Men of God in days of old were famous for their faith.

By faith--by believing God--we know that the world and the stars--in fact, all things--were made at God's command; and that they were all made from things that can't be seen.

It was by faith that Abel obeyed God and brought an offering that pleased God more than Cain's offering did. God accepted Abel and proved it by accepting his gift; and though Abel is long dead, we can still learn lessons from him about trusting God.

Enoch trusted God too, and that is why God took him away to heaven without dying; suddenly he was gone because God took him. Before this happened God had said how pleased he was with Enoch. You can never please God without faith, without depending on him. Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him.

Noah was another who trusted God. When he heard God's warning about the future, Noah believed him even though there was then no sign of a flood, and wasting no time, he built the ark and saved his family. Noah's belief in God was in direct contrast to the sin and disbelief of the rest of the world--which refused to obey--and because of his faith he became one of those whom God has accepted.

Abraham trusted God, and when God told him to leave home and go far away to another land which he promised to give him, Abraham obeyed. Away he went, not even knowing where he was going. And even when he reached God's promised land, he lived in tents like a mere visitor, as did Isaac and Jacob, to whom God gave the same promise. Abraham did this because he was confidently waiting for God to bring him to that strong heavenly city whose designer and builder is God.

Sarah, too, had faith, and because of this she was able to become a mother in spite of her old age, for she realized that God, who gave her his promise, would certainly do what he said. And so a whole nation came from Abraham, who was too old to have even one child--a nation with so many millions of people that, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the ocean shores, there is no way to count them.

These men of faith I have mentioned died without ever receiving all that God had promised them; but they saw it all awaiting them on ahead and were glad, for they agreed that this earth was not their real home but that they were just strangers visiting down here. And quite obviously when they talked like that, they were looking forward to their real home in heaven.

If they had wanted to, they could have gone back to the good things of this world. But they didn't want to. They were living for heaven. And now God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has made a heavenly city for them.

While God was testing him, Abraham still trusted in God and his promises, and so he offered up his son Isaac, and was ready to slay him on the altar of sacrifice; yes, to slay even Isaac, through whom God had promised to give Abraham a whole nation of descendants! He believed that if Isaac died God would bring him back to life again; and that is just about what happened, for as far as Abraham was concerned, Isaac was doomed to death, but he came back again alive! It was by faith that Isaac knew God would give future blessings to his two sons, Jacob and Esau.

By faith Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph's two sons as he stood and prayed, leaning on the top of his cane.

And it was by faith that Joseph, as he neared the end of his life, confidently spoke of God bringing the people of Israel out of Egypt; and he was so sure of it that he made them promise to carry his bones with them when they left!

Moses' parents had faith too. When they saw that God had given them an unusual child, they trusted that God would save him from the death the king commanded, and they hid him for three months, and were not afraid.

It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be treated as the grandson of the king, but chose to share ill-treatment with God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought that it was better to suffer for the promised Christ than to own all the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking forward to the great reward that God would give him. And it was because he trusted God that he left the land of Egypt and wasn't afraid of the king's anger. Moses kept right on going; it seemed as though he could see God right there with him. And it was because he believed God would save his people that he commanded them to kill a lamb as God had told them to and sprinkle the blood on the doorposts of their homes, so that God's terrible Angel of Death could not touch the oldest child in those homes, as he did among the Egyptians.

The people of Isreal trusted God and went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians chasing them tried it, they all were drowned.

It was faith that brought the walls of Jericho tumbling down after the people of Israel had walked around them seven days, as God had commanded them. By faith--because she believed in God and his power--Rahab the harlot did not die with all the others in her city when they refused to obey God, for she gave a friendly welcome to the spies.

Well, how much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephtah and David and Samuel and all the other prophets. These people all trusted God and as a result won battles, overthrew kingdoms, ruled their people well, and received what God had promised them; they were kept from harm in a den of lions, and in a fiery furnace. Some, through their faith, escaped death by the sword. Some were made strong again after they had been weak or sick. Others were given great power in battle; they made whole armies turn and run away.

And some women, through faith, received their loved ones back again from death. But others trusted God and were beaten to death, preferring to die rather than turn from God and be free--trusting that they would rise to a better life afterwards.

Some were laughed at and their backs cut open with whips, and others were chained in dungeons. Some died by stoning and some by being sawed in two; others were promised freedom if they would renounce their faith, then were killed with the sword. Some went about in skins of sheep and goats, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in dens and caves. They were hungry and sick and ill-treated--too good for this world.

And these men of faith, though they trusted God and won his approval, none of them received all that God had promised them; for God wanted them to wait and share the even better rewards that were prepared for us.

It is now our turn! I have always enjoyed history. Two of my favorite television channels are the History Channel and ESPN Classic. In school I loved American History. The incredible stories of how our nation was founded. All of the various wars that we have been engaged in throughout our 226 years. Being a sports fan, I enjoy reading about those who pioneered the games of football, basketball, and baseball. So I guess it was natural for me to love the great stories in the Bible, the greatest history book of all time. I also love to read the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus. Studying the history of the church throughout the years has been a passion of mine. What makes history most exciting though is not just the great events, but the men and women who were responsible for, and made those great events happen.

Only God knows how many billions of people have lived throughout human history. The fact is, we each make this journey called life just once. It is a very brief journey, measured by an average of only 50 some years. Whatever opportunity we may have to put our stamp on this world we are living in, to contribute to history happens in those few years. Should Christ tarry in His return, the history those in future generations will read about is being made each and every day right now, by those who are alive right now...INCLUDING YOU!

With the understanding that this is a brief journey we are on, we should be motivated to get the most out of each and every day. Our focus each day should be on fulfilling our reason for being alive, and that is to serve and glorify the Lord through our lives. I have written previously that the greatest legacy we can leave is the lives we have influenced for Christ throughout our journey. We will live on in those God has brought across our path during our years here on earth. In serving Him, we should not be afraid to dream big. You see my friend, we have a big God. He is only limited by our faith.

The Bible tells the people perish "where there is no vision". What God needs in these last days more than ever is a people sold out to Him, not afraid to dream big dreams, and have total faith in Him. Every day people die, and will be forever separated from God because they do not know Christ as their Savior. Every day people all over the world are dealing with the trials and tribulations of every day life, hurting, without hope because they do not know Jesus. God has called us to be the light to this dark world. We must allow Him to use our lives to be that light in the midst of the darkness so many live in. That is what He asks me to do each day, and what He asks you to do each day. As we are faithful over a little, "He makes us ruler over much". He will use our lives to whatever degree we allow Him to use us.

Our motivation is critical. The Bible teaches in many places that we are to set our desires on the things of heaven, not on earth. You can spend your entire life trying to be the best athlete, the best businessman. the most successful actress, the recording artist who sells the most records, the top military man in your country, a scientist who makes many wonderful discoveries, or the best at whatever profession you want to name, and you may succeed. But unless you were doing it for the Lord, allowing the Lord to use your success to bring His message of hope and love through Christ to many people, the best you can hope for is a paragraph in the history books that one day will no longer cease to exist. That means your lifetime accomplishments are temporal at best. That is why when our motivation is Heaven-bound, the accomplishments have an eternal significance in the changed hearts and lives of people.

I love you, and care about you so much. I realize many of you are being buried with the cares of this world. I work hard daily to encourage you, pray for you, try to help you over come these distractions, since they keep you form fully focusing on all God has planned for your life. It is a tactic of the enemy to keep us so distracted, we aren't able to be all god intends for us to be. I am praying for you today to see victory over these issues, and while you are in the midst of those battles, know that God has more for you to do. The fact is, there will always be battles in our life, always be distractions. We must deal with those battles, but never lose sight of the fact God ahs a plan and purpose for our life.

Many say I'll serve God when my life is straight. Guess what, your life is never going to be 100% straight, and you are giving the enemy a victory he doesn't deserve when you do that. Every great man and woman of God fought battles in their personal life. That is part of the human condition. The difference was they didn't let those battle stop them form being all god wanted them to be, and serving Him with their life.

It is no accident that you are reading this message today. It is no accident that we are living at this very moment in human history. We can either just live out our time, or we can use this precious gift God has given us to serve Him and glorify Him. I want to personally challenge you today to take 15 minutes during the next 24 hours. Get alone with god. Just you and God. Pray this prayer,"Dear God, here I am. You know all about me. You know my weaknesses, my strengths. You know the battles I am facing in my life right now. But I believe that you have a perfect plan for my life. I want to surrender myself to you this very moment so that your plan for my life might be fulfilled. It is NOT my life, it belongs to you. Show me what you want me to do, and I will do it. Today is the day. Now is the time. Guide me and direct me to do your will. IN Jesus' name, AMEN".

Now spend some time and meditate on God, and I promise you the Holy Spirit will begin to speak to you, and God will open doors in your life, and He will reveal to you through the Word, through prayer, through other people, through circumstances what it is He is asking you to do. He will start small, and as you are faithful in a little, he will give you more. TODAY IS THE DAY, AND NOW IS THE TIME!!! It is our turn to make history, ETERNAL HISTORY in the lives of hurting people!!!!!!!

In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ, Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com.

***I am excited to let you know that the Liveprayer Daily Devotional is now available via audio each day. Simply go to http://www.liveprayer.com/DailyDevotionalAudio.html. Click on "Search by Category", then locate DAILY DEVOTIONAL. I want to thank Ed Morando for making this service available for FREE to Liveprayer.com.

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