Isaiah 7.1-17
Isaiah was sent to Ahaz, king of Judah, to assure him that the king of Assyria’s attack would not be successful; his alliance with Israel would not succeed over the southern kingdom. However, Ahaz needed to trust the Lord; he had a significant role in the victory. If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all (Isaiah 7.9). He could garner his troops, he could deploy the keenest military tactics, and he could orchestrate the battlefield magnificently. But apart from trusting God he would miserably fail. His victory rested in humility not arrogance, in dependence not independence, in recognizing the power of God and not relying on the power of man. This same truth is just as strategically important for the believer today. We can have great knowledge of Scripture, we can have comprehensive understanding of the character of God, we can perceive God’s incredible working throughout history, but apart from faith, this will mean nothing.
Spiritual victory does not come in just knowing about God but comes through trusting God. We can have clarity in a knowledge of the enemy’s schemes and attacks, believing he will always deceive and lie, and knowing he cannot be trusted and will always twist the truth of Scripture for his devious benefit. But if we do not trust in the power of God to overcome him and give us daily victory, we will fall to his miserable tactics and be caught in his unrelenting snare. Being firm in faith is believing God will always do all He has promised, believing God will never change, will never fail, and will never deny Himself. Being firm in faith is believing that in God alone we will have victory over sin, over temptation, over the flesh, and over all the wicked schemes of the evil one. Being firm in faith, we are compelled to be fully faithful to our Lord and His Word, and to live in His powerful grace as He accomplishes His perfect purpose.
Being firm in faith – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry
My Morning Desk 