Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Success

Our success is marked

by accomplishment it seems

whether by worldly standards

of wealth, health, longevity;

or within ourselves a step

taken, a goal met, known

perhaps only to ourselves, gives

sense of satisfaction and

life is good.

Then we read that a man

died, a faithful man in God’s

eyes—a righteous man who

lived faithfully.

Which measure truly succeeds?

Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:4, “; he died, but through his faith he still speaks.”

We are so easily influenced by our world’s views, often without recognizing it. Sometimes we see a successful life as meaning abundance. Even when we acknowledge that riches and power in the long run will not satisfy our inner search for truth, we seek an abundance of life. Overflowing life—alive in the Lord’s gifts. Grateful for our blessings. All is well with our soul.

Yet Abel died. Young. Jesus died. Young. Moses died without setting foot in the Promised Land. And so the disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind.” We too wonder who is sinning when death and disease and disaster strike. We measure by the external.

Whereas God measures by the heart. A heart like Abel’s that took God’s word as truth. Faith lives. Faith is life. A life lived in faith is success. So different from the world around us. So easy to miss the ongoing steps. So easy to let hard heartedness and discouragement take over.

Yielded to God’s word, Abel lived in trust under all circumstances. Cain even told his brother of the conversation he had with the Lord, of the warning he had received. Still Abel continued to go into the field with Cain.  And his trust continues to speak through the ages as a witness to both the here and the hereafter.

Lord, please show us how to truly live a life in focus with Your heart—not apart—but faithful in all the moments.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 33:20-21

“Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.

For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name.”