Walked: By Faith

Walked

Methuselah is known

worldwide—his longevity

the prize record held.

Not connected often

with famous grandson Noah

another universal story,

great feats—family

heritage. Does anyone

remember that his father

Enoch, “walked with God.”

Not much else said

besides genealogy and reputation

“and then he was no more

because God took him.”

A heritage not repeated

in biblical annals,

but to walk with God

how can we ignore?

Psalm 104:6, “Thou didst cover it with the deep as with a garment;The waters were standing above the mountains.”

Reflection Questions: Walk: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1. Do you think of yourself as being able to walk with God as Enoch did? Why or why not?

2. Whom do you trust humanly more than any other person? Why?

3. Is there someone that you give those same gifts of relationship to when you walk with them?

4. Are these gifts that can only be shared spontaneously or gifts that can be nurtured?

Share: What is most special to you when you can walk with a close friend or loved one?

Walk: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 11:5, “By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and ‘he was not found, because God had taken him.’”

Walk

Every time I’ve come to this verse, and the one it refers to in Genesis 5:24: “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him,” I found myself silent and a little stunned at the words.

What would it be like to walk with God? Did he get to walk in person like Adam and Eve in the garden? Did they walk in silence like long time friends often do? Or were they so excited to be able to share their day and feelings that the conversation skipped from subject to subject and time passed into a blur?

And this happened long before the law, long before Jesus’ sacrifice to remove the barrier of sin that keeps us from fellowship. Scripture says so little about Enoch, but we do know he was a man and therefore not perfect—not righteous—not holy. Only Jesus can make that claim. And still, Enoch walked with God.

Richard Foster reminds us that the gift of Simple prayer is the freedom to pour our heart out before Him. “We do not try to conceal our conflicting and contradictory motives from God—or from ourselves.” We are fortunate when we find trustworthy friends with whom we can share with complete honesty and know they will listen all the way to the bottom of our garbage and stay with us until we recognize it as well.

Yet this miracle of fellowship to walk with God is His gift to each of us. Enoch recognized it and accepted it. Lord, help us to receive this wondrous spiritual heritage. Deepen our faith so that we willingly remove any barriers that keep us from walking with you.

Your thoughts,

Gift: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

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Gift

Much conjecture debate

pontification and sermons

continue throughout

eras due to concrete

missing details.

Who, what, why journalism

sets scope on earth’s

first family. Fresh from

the garden, first generation

embroiled in fruit’s effect.

One righteous—accepted—died.

One gift received approved,

one faith endures as witness

his voice still speaks

through his actions of

one confirmed substantiated fact.

Psalm 104:5, “He established the earth upon its foundations, So that it will not totter forever and ever.”

Reflection Questions: An Offering: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

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Reflection Questions

1. During what seasons of our lives do we sometimes find it difficult to give without hesitation?

2. When do we find giving something that pours out of us?

3. How does this connect to our everyday work?

Share: Have you ever given a non-public gift? How free did you heart feel?

Leave: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

Leave

Leave behind all that

is familiar. Go to a new

land. Brings both sorrow

and anticipation. Grief

and adventure. Most difficult

letting go well-worn habits,

comfort routines. Taking one

last look before new inheritance.

Now go.

Psalm 104: 9, “Thou didst set a boundary that they may not pass over; That they may not return to cover the earth.”

An Offering: By Faith: Prayers and Poetry

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Hebrews 11:4, “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks.”

An Offering

Why do we tend to compare ourselves to others whether personally or professionally? We may manage to separate out some of our activities from ‘the world’ but still make judgments, either against ourselves if we feel we don’t measure up, or towards others for doing less than us.

Often it starts as an honest question: how do you manage your time, your talents, and your finances as a faithful steward of God’s gifts, we say.  We too want to give back with open hands and gratitude. But sometimes it can feel like a competition, especially when we see a life poured out in service and all we seem to manage is a smidgen.

Whether we admit it openly or not there’s a little sympathy for Cain, a little of ‘well my brother also was dad’s favorite’ sibling attitude, running through our thoughts. Or, what exactly did he do wrong so I don’t ever do that! We really just want approval. But from whom?

Offerings—given with a whole heart by Abel. Given in outward obedience by Cain. Not a side-by-side contest or test level evaluation. Instead a private one-to-one with the Lord. Jesus pronounced the widow’s mite as honorable and the rich man’s offering as insufficient because it came out of his plenty. It did not touch him personally. Both Abel and the widow acted in faith. Too often we act in surface obedience, like Cain.

“Please take from me my life when I don’t have the strength to give it away to You, Jesus,” is from a worship song by the group Third Day. Maybe Cain didn’t realize or trust that even when his soul was cold all he needed to do was ask God for help.

Lord, please keep us from a tightfisted heart that influences everything in our life—attitude—time—gifts—family—friends—strangers—work and worship. Please show us what faithfulness looks like in action for each of us, so that we can support and encourage one another to live out Your words in trust.

Your thoughts,