Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Zechariah and Elizabeth had prayed for so long to have children that, when God sent an angel to tell them it would happen, they did not believe Him (Luke 1). I wonder: am I like that? Do I pray so long for something that I begin to disbelieve that God can do it? What in life can God not do? I know by reading God’s word that God can sometimes change His mind when we are persistent enough. Look at the story about Sodom: He allowed Abraham to talk Him into looking for good souls in that city. Then there is the story about the persistent widow (Luke 18): because she kept pestering Him, she got what she wanted. If God did not want us to pray for things — and even pester Him at times — would we have these examples to follow? God even tells us, in Matthew 17, that we can move mountains, if we have enough faith.

The book of Luke starts out telling us that he wrote these accounts so that we might know for a certainty that they are true. It is my belief that the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelations, is there so that we might know for a certainty what is true. If this, then, is why the Bible is here; if this, then, is why it is in so many different languages; and if this is why it is the most printed book out there, maybe we should take the time to read it.

If we read God’s promises and see what He has laid out for us, should we not believe it? If we read that we should be persistent in our prayers to Him, then should we not be persistent? If we read that God answers the prayers of the faithful, should we not believe that he will answer our prayers if we are faithful?

We do not need to ask, as Zechariah did, “How can I be sure?” We just need to read and get to know our Father through His word, so that “we may be sure of those things we hope for and certain of those things we do not see”.

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependant on anybody.”

What is my ambition in life? What do we hope our children’s ambition will be?

Paul tells us of an ambition he wishes we had. A lofty ambition, if you will. Paul wants us to lead a quiet life. He wants for us the ability to work and to mind our own business. Wow, think about what he is asking! He wants us to mind our own business. He wants this for us so that our quiet life will win others to Christ.

My ambition, then, should be to lead people to Christ by leading a quiet life in Christ.

We often wonder how we can impact the lives of others. Paul is telling us here. We can impact other people by following Christ. A Christ-filled life is one that will be noticed. What we want is for people to come to Christ because of a desire to know Christ. If our lives are lived in such a way that people see that a Christ-filled life is to be desired, then we can and will lead people to the well of living water.

Paul is telling us that it is a quiet, uncomplicated life that will draw others to look a second time and allow us to bring others to Christ.

Are you living a quiet life?

When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there

…and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)-- if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.

II Peter 2:7-11

God knows how to rescue his children. He has done it before. In Genesis 7, God rescued Noah and his family. In chapter 19 of Genesis, he rescued Lot and his family. The whole book of Exodus is about his rescuing Moses and the children of Israel. Daniel lived through the fiery furnace. Peter was able to walk on water as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. Yes, God does care for us, when we ask. He does care for us even when we do not care for ourselves. He makes provisions for saving us even when we do not know we need them. He sent Jesus!

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing

Encourage one another. Who encourages you? My husband does me. I have to say when I am upset he listens; when I need a clearer picture, he provides it. When I need someone to talk to, he is there. He will never replace me; he will always be there for me. What a friend I have in him! God knew what he was doing when he sent me to work in Sumter, SC. As wonderful as the relationship with my spouse is, God is there to a larger degree then my husband. God is the one who knows all my inner thoughts and still loves me. He loved me enough to know I needed someone in my life as I grew older.

Paul writes and tells us that we are supposed to be there for each other. He tells us when one member of the body hurts, all members hurt. When one needs assistance, there should be plenty. He speaks of praying for others always.

When you read his letter, you discover that groups of fallible humans have not changed much over the years. A group will still hurt its members, is not concerned with some of them, avoids getting to know some and will leave some completely out. Words are said without thinking, actions are taken without thinking, and feelings are hurt without caring. All these things are done because we do not heed the advice of God that Paul wrote for us.

Encourage one another; be there for each other giving of you.

I wonder if that is why he instructs so often to pray for someone else. I wonder if, when we spend the time to pray for each other and for those we do not know, God changes our thought process. Mine does change when I do this.

Who do you encourage? Who have you discouraged by not taking the time to see them for who they are? Have you pushed a brother or sister away? Who do you meet at the Throne of our Living God? Who do you lift up more: yourself or others?

We are to encourage one another. We are to build each other up. How do we do that? Can we do that if we do not put the other first?