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2 Corinthians 5:7 - Live By Faith And Not By Feeling.2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV) For we walk by faith, not by sight.2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV) We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT) For we live by believing and not by seeing. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NCV) We live by what we believe, not by what we can see. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (AMP) For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (MSG) It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going. INTRODUCTION A DISTINGUISHING QUALITY OF A PERSON OF FAITH is that he has a STRONGER ATTACHMENT TO GOD THAN TO HIS ENVIRONMENT; in other words, he finds his reason for living in God rather than in his surroundings. [Megiddo Message Magazine] THE BEGINNING POINT OF FAITH IS BELIEVING IN GOD'S CHARACTER -- he is who he says he is. The END POINT IS BELIEVING IN GOD'S PROMISES - he will do what he says he will do..... This confidence in the realities that are unseen allows believers to persevere in this faith, regardless of persecution, opposition, or temptation. (Life Application Commentary) What we see, "facts," isn't always correct. For instance, we look at matter and see it as solid; yet, in reality, matter is almost all empty space. We look at the ground and judge it to be unmoving, even though it is moving very quickly through space. We can be in a closed, empty room and hear nothing, even though the air in the room is filled with radio waves carrying all sorts of sounds that we, left to ourselves, can't hear. What we see certainly is far from the whole picture. [SS Lesson 10/8/2010] COMMENTARY PEARL The White Cane After watching a blind man cross a street with a black cane in 1930, George A. Bonham, president of the Peoria Lions Club in Illinois, proposed painting the cane white to make it more noticeable for motorists. Fourteen years later, Richard E. Hoover, a WWII rehabilitation specialist, pioneered the technique of arcing the cane from side to side with the tip touching the ground in front of the trailing foot. Since 1964, October 15 has officially been White Cane Safety Day in the United States. When the apostle Paul says that we should "walk by faith, not by sight," he is referring to three realities not visible to the mortal eye. The first reality is the existence of a God who wants us to dwell with Him, emphasized in the phrases "absent from the Lord" (v. 6) and "present with the Lord" (v. 8). Unlike the typical pagan deity; the God of the Bible is not distant but personal. He has prepared a place in heaven for each of us (John 14:3). But before we can inhabit that place, the second unseen reality must happen: glorification. When Jesus comes again, the righteous will receive new bodies, free from decay and death (1 Corinthians 15:53). Never again will we desire what is sinful or suffer from what is harmful. Until then, "we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed" with incorruption and immortality (2 Corinthians 5:2). But according to our third unseen reality, not everyone "[appearing] before the judgment seat of Christ" (v. 10) will receive that new garment. Do you want to receive it? Then choose to "walk by faith" (v. 7) - to "make it [your] aim, whether present or absent" (v. 9), to please a God you cannot see with mortal eyes. He promises to give you "the Spirit as a guarantee" (v. 5). Heavenly Father, please give me Your Holy Spirit so I can live with eternity in view. [The Most Amazing Bible Promises by Amazing Facts] COMMENTARY It is our privilege to carry with us the credentials of our faith, --love, joy, and peace. When we do this, we shall be able to present the mighty arguments of the cross of Christ. When we learn to walk by faith and not by feeling, we shall have help from God just when we need it, and His peace will come into our hearts. It was this simple life of obedience and trust that Enoch lived. If we learn this lesson of simple trust, ours may be the testimony that he received, that he pleased God. ML14 It is not a conclusive evidence that a man is a Christian because he manifests spiritual ecstasy under extraordinary circumstances. Holiness is not rapture: it is an entire surrender of the will to God; it is living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God; it is doing the will of our heavenly Father; it is trusting God in trial, in darkness as well as in the light; it is walking by faith and not by sight; it is relying on God with unquestioning confidence, and resting in His love. If we commit the keeping of our souls to God in the exercise of living faith, His promises will not fail us; for they have no limit but our faith. AA51 Confound not faith and feeling together. They are distinct. Faith is ours to exercise. This faith we must keep in exercise. Believe, believe. Let your faith take hold of the blessing, and it is yours. Your feelings have nothing to do with this faith. When faith brings the blessing to your heart, and you rejoice in the blessing, it is no more faith, but feeling. {1T 167.2} Faith and feeling are as distinct as the east is from the west. Faith is not dependent on feeling. We must earnestly cry to God in faith, feeling or no feeling, and then live our prayers. Our assurance and evidence is God's word, and after we have asked we must believe without doubting. I praise Thee, O God, I praise Thee. Thou hast not failed me in the performance of Thy word. Thou has revealed Thyself unto me, and I am Thine to do Thy will (Letter 7, 1892). LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY 2 Corinthians 5:7 - Live By Faith And Not By Feeling. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20211217-0839.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200514-1128.html 1 Corinthians 2:14 - Spiritual Discernment Necessary for Biblical Understanding. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230103-0953.html Hebrews 12:1, 2 - FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240125-0725.html Job 19:25-27 - The Divine Redeemer. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240816-1220.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |