As 2015 draws to a close, I believe we must remain steadfast in our walk of faith, which faith we must grow in 2016, because we cannot afford to remain on the same spot or we will backslide. Faith is about growing and changing for the better. It is about being mature in deed and spirit. It is about being able to weather the storms and encouraging those that are starting off the journey.
By Conelia Mabasa
Daniel and his three friends were taken by Nebuchadnezzar’s men into Babylon against their will. Though they were serving in a foreign land, they did not forget their God. Daniel had a routine that is recorded in the Bible, three times he went up to an upper room, faced Jerusalem and prayed to God. The unwavering faith of the Jewish friends is aptly demonstrated when they were about to be thrown in a pit of fire for refusing to bow down to the king’s man-made god of gold.
The scriptures say [Daniel 3 v 13- 16 NIV], Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
The young men looked up to their God to rescue them from the furnace and he did not disappoint or let them down. We can also reap the benefits of remaining steadfast in our walk of faith.
Because of our current economic situation, some might find the going tough and begin to blame God for waning fortunes. There are words of encouragement in Matthew 6 v 28-33. The Lord will make provisions for us if we seek Him first and the evidence is there that he takes such good care of birds, grasses and wild flowers that we marvel at their beauty.
We are also encouraged to rejoice and to make our requests known to God. [Phillippians 4 v 4-7 NIV], Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
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Let us continue to seek Him, understanding that he draws closer to those who draw close to Him. We need to ask for the discerning spirit so that we do not become victims of blind faith in a country where too many people are claiming to have been called to minister with the bizarre becoming commonplace in places of worship.
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