Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s examine our faith muscle.

Today’s scripture, Hebrews 11:5‭-‬6 (NLT), testifies…
It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Consider…
One of the believer’s main spiritual muscles is faith. The reason I believe faith is a muscle is because it’s the tendon that makes hope substantive and sight evidentiary. Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) explains…
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

A great example of this was Noah, which Hebrews 11:7 (KJV) shares…
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Recall Noah had never seen rain, yet he built an Ark because God told him too. I needed to remind myself exactly what God told Noah, so I read Genesis 6:13‭-‬14 (NLT). It said…
So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth! “Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior.

God didn’t tell Noah how He would destroy the earth, instead He told Him to build an Ark. That’s an important observation, because God may not tell us how or when He will do what He’s promised, but He will tell us what do in preparation.

In Noah’s case, and possibly ours, faith made Him act on what God told Him to do without knowing all of the details of what He promised to do. Faith makes us act, believing the promise without fully knowing the plan.

What has God told you to do in preparation for what He’s promised?

In case you’re struggling to find an answer, in Matthew 6:33 (NLT) said…
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

It’s not a coincidence that God saved Noah who did exactly what Jesus said. (Genesis 6:9)

God has promised to give us everything we need when we seek His Kingdom and live righteously.

In our example Noah shows how to seek God’s Kingdom and live righteously in Genesis 6:22 (NLT)…
So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

Our faith muscle believes God and does exactly what He commands.

Doing exactly what God commands reminds me of what He said to Joshua in Joshua 1:6‭-‬9 (NLT)…
“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

God tells us the same thing…
“Be strong and courageous”

I read this as a faith imperative.

Psalms 31:24 (NLT) provides additional emphasis and context…
So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!

Noah was strong and courageous when he built an ark in the desert, subject to the ridicule of onlookers. But He was acting in faith to do what God told him.

Sometimes God tells us to do things that may look ridiculous to others, but we must be strong and courageous and by faith obey God.

Faith makes us look only at God, regardless of who’s looking at us.

I could go on and on with faith lessons from Noah, but the Holy Spirit directed me to Enoch’s testimony of faith for today’s scripture.

I often quote Hebrews 11:6. However, today the Holy Spirit showed me that verse five provides context. Specifically where it says…
For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.

Imagine being known as a person who pleased God!

My mind runs to Jesus’ baptism. Matthew 3:16‭-‬17 (KJV) says…
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Many of us are familiar with Jesus’ baptism, but as I learned from one of my AWANA students, the key to God the Father being pleased is found in preceding verses. Matthew 3:14‭-‬15 (NLT)…
But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.

Jesus said and did ALL that God requires! Have you?

We please God when we do everything that He requires! And the one thing that He has told us is required to please Him is faith.

Today’s verse 6 explains why faith is required to please God…

• It believes God exists
• It believes He rewards sincerity
• It sincerely seeks Him

You see the faith muscle makes you believe and pursue God more than anything or anyone else.

So today, pay attention to your faith muscle as you go about your day. Let it help you earn a good reputation like the people of old in Hebrews 11:2

More importantly, let it make you known as a person that pleased God!

Today’s song is…
Stand In Faith

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)