The Answer to One of Life’s Most Pressing Questions
“Belief?”
“Yes,” Sazed said. “Tell me, Mistress. What is it that you believe?”
Vin frowned. “What kind of question is that?”
“The most important kind, I think.”
― Brandon Sanderson, The Final Empire
Reflections from Luke 1:18-25
David Lee, one of the questions in life that you will often find yourself asking is: How shall I know this? (v.18)
How can I know this will work?
How can I know if this will turn out okay?
How can I know if I will succeed?
There’s dozens of variations of this question.
Here’s a three-part answer:
- First: Measure your chances of success against God’s ability, not yours | “How shall I know this? For I am an old man…” v.18
If you can handle what you’re doing, you’re not doing enough. Life was not meant to be lived comfortably – dream God-sized dreams. Go big David Lee.
- Second: Believe God | “because you did not believe my words…”, v.20.
To believe God you must first believe in God and then you must actually know what He is like – His values, goals, and promises. This will require you to devote yourself to a lifetime of studying and knowing your bible, studying Christian apologetics and theology and learning how to apply it to the 21st century.
It will also require you learning how to have a vibrant and on-going relationship with the “Boots on the Ground” for the Holy Trinity: the Holy Spirit (John 16:7).
- Finally it all comes down to this: You must obey God. You must act on what you believe, act as if God is right | “After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived…”, v24.
To his everlasting credit, even though Zechariah had to work through a few things, in the end the old man went home and broke the news to his wife (I wonder how she responded!) and they did their part in making babies! Good for them!
And good for you, if you will dare to measure your life – not by your age and abilities, or by what everyone around you tells you what you should do, but instead you trust God and obey Him.
I call that, Running2Win! Do it David Lee! I’ll be cheering you all the way.
Love, Papa
Prayer: Father God, stir up a hunger in David Lee’s heart to love and read and learn your Bible. And Lord Jesus, send the Holy Spirit with power into David Lee’s life. Help him to live a thriving Spirit-filled, Spirit-inspired, and Spirit-led life all his days. And then give him the courage to trust and obey, no matter what others say or what the consequences turn out to be. Help him to Run2Win for the Gospel’s sake and for the glory of our King Jesus. I pray this for all my VPGs and for all those who hunger for you. Amen.
