Today’s Verse
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
– 2 Corinthians 5:7
Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
This verse reminds me of the Lord Jesus’ disciple Thomas. As we all know, after the Lord Jesus was resurrected, Thomas didn’t believe until he touched the nail marks on Jesus’ hands. In the end, the Lord said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Thomas’ faith in God is just by sight, which is not true faith and wouldn’t gain God’s approval. In fact, the Lord’s words are reminder and warning to us, for we don’t have true faith in God in our daily lives like Thomas. For example, when we didn’t see God’s response to our prayers, when what God has done goes against our notions and imaginations, we would develop doubts toward God, and even complain against Him. How can we have true confidence in God?
God says, “When you look to God, it’s possible that He doesn’t give you any feeling or any clear ideas, much less any clear directions, but He allows you some understanding. Or maybe this time you haven’t understood anything, yet it is right that you look to God. People practicing in this way is not done to follow rules, but rather it is the need of their hearts and is how man should practice. It’s not that you can obtain enlightenment and guidance every time you look to God and call on God; this spiritual state in man’s life is normal and natural, and looking to God is the normal interaction with God in people’s hearts” (“Believers First Need to See Through the Evil Trends of the World”). “If you don’t learn how to look to God and rely on God, you will never see the work God does on you, or the guidance and enlightenment He gives to you. If you can’t see these things, then the words that ‘God exists and He guides everything in the life of mankind’ will, in the depths of your heart, end with a question mark and not with a period or exclamation mark. ‘Does God guide everything in the life of mankind?’ ‘Does God observe the depths of man’s heart?’ For what reason do you make them questions? This is because you do not truly rely on God or look to Him, and so you will not be able to generate a true belief in God. If you can’t generate a true belief in God, then the question marks will forever be there with everything God does, and there will be no periods” (“Believers First Need to See Through the Evil Trends of the World”).
These words tell us that we should learn to rely on and look to God in our daily lives. After we personally gain God’s enlightenment and guidance, we will have true faith in Him. For example, the reason why David had such great faith in his battle with Goliath was that he had experienced God’s guidance as he was a shepherd. When he repeatedly faced beasts’ attack on his sheep, he saved the sheep from the beast by relying on God. Thus, he had some knowledge of God’s almightiness. Relying on God in hard times is absolutely right. If we do not leave God, we will experience His guidance and gradually develop true faith in Him.
Prayer: O God, my faith is too small and I always believe in You by sight like Thomas did. However, I am willing to change, to experience Your deeds in daily life so as to know You. May You guide me. Amen.
