“By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones” (Hebrews 11:22).
TEXT —Hebrews 11:17-22
Message
In her book Atheists Finding God, Jana Harmon investigates the conversions of atheists to Christianity in the modern West. Many atheists who never thought they would abandon their beliefs were influenced by the kindness of Christians. Nearly two-thirds of the atheists Harmon spoke to were not seeking God but something disrupted their resistance, leading them to embrace faith in Christ.
Abraham left his old religion to become a friend of God. His faith was tested and he passed, showing unquestionable obedience. He was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac, but at the last moment, an angel stopped him. Isaac also showed unwavering trust in his father and God throughout this ordeal. This story highlights the depth of Abraham’s faith and his willingness to follow God’s commands, even when they seem impossible. Ultimately, it demonstrates the importance of faith and obedience in one’s relationship with God.
Isaac did not allow his filial love for Esau to overrule his faith in God’s predicted promise to pass the firstborn inheritance to Jacob. He was faithful to God despite his preferential love for Esau. Despite earlier flaws in Jacob’s character, there was a resurgence of the faith of Abraham in his heart as he aged. This was manifested as he crossed his hands on his dying bed to bless the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh. He passed the blessing of the first son to Ephraim, the younger son. Joseph’s faith in the Promised Land outweighed the years of affluence and dignity in Egypt. He affirmed by faith that the Lord would yet visit his brethren and bring them unto the land of promise.
Having been called out of the world into the kingdom of God’s dear Son, Jesus Christ, we should remember to keep the torch of faith alive and endeavour to pass it to our progeny. We must never let it die with us. It is the faith of our fathers.
Thought for the day
Your deed of kindness can provide a path for someone to find his way to the cross.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
