Friday, October 1, 2010

A Breath of Surety in the Champion’s Way

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,

I wait for God my Savior;

my God will hear me.”

~Micah 7:7 (NIV).

Like seemingly all the prophets of the Old Testament—both major and minor—Micah puts some pretty cutting God-inspired Scripture together, and chapter 7 is characteristically a real mixed bag. The pattern, however, is transcendently inspiring.

It hinges on this verse. From the dire circumstance of Micah’s personal observatory he calls to God in hope and what a finish it introduces from verse 8 through to the end of the book!

The Flavour of Victory – the Gospel Design

What we’re really seeing here is a pattern of biblical resilience that is known repetitively through the Bible—cover to cover. The psalms individually and collectively show this pattern generally, as do the New Testament letters by and large. It’s also what Jesus teaches (for instance, John 16:33).

No matter how hard things get for the champions of faith they still look to God; indeed, as a function of the depth of suffering there is even more drawing on God. It’s the gospel way.

It’s the Way Life Works

Why is it we’re inspired and endeared to the great stories of human triumph? This gospel pattern echoes itself through the vestiges of life and those who might even loath the very subject of God cannot resist also becoming inspired by everyday heroism.

People in Micah’s day hearing him even utter these words could’ve been forgiven for laughing him off—“the guy’s crazy!” they might have said. Yet faith sees it differently and any amount of ridicule is superfluous to the spirit within a faithful believer. Their belief is founded on bedrock; the firm foundation that just doesn’t fail.

Developing the Champion’s Heart and Mind

We all aspire to improve and personify this resilience we see in the Joshua’s, Micah’s and Abraham’s of the Bible. We strive for that willing and strong heart and the sound and steady mind—a confidence that is ours to own and enjoy.

It’s a promise of God that we’d all have this marvellous reality installed within each of us—it’s accorded just to faith.

Faith is the key. We might think we’ve done that and it got us nowhere. Faith is action. These actions are consistent, as an investment, in the basis of a willing and strong heart and sound and steady mind. Besides those with medical conditions to the contrary—precluding them—living like this is not being blown about on the high seas of our emotions, tossed relentlessly by the wind (James 1:7-8). It’s steady state—as far as possible—and trusting God.

Let’s become that champion of faith that God has willed for each of us according the personal measure of our faith.

© 2010 S. J. Wickham.

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