Skip to main content

Daily Devotion: Hebrews 11:5-6

By

Hebrews 11:5-6    "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.  (6)  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

I included verse 6 with Enoch this morning because the wording says Enoch "pleased God".  We know very little about Enoch. Actually we only know two facts about him other than his age. He was the father of Methuselah and he pleased God. The Genesis account of Enoch says, "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." (Genesis 5:24)  I want to add one more verse from the Old Testament at this point.  "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3) Now the pieces of the picture are beginning to come together.

What is the glue that holds these pieces together? Is it not faith? Does faith come from our own ability; or rather, is it faith given to us at the point of salvation? Faith, as is salvation, is the gift of God. It is important that we understand this; otherwise, humanity would want to take credit for the ability to believe God. It is the result of God's working within us. I bring all this into the devotion this morning lest we think Enoch was a super human being who had no sin. Enoch was a man and as Job tells us, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble." (Job 14:1) Enoch was not exempt from this truth. But he had this testimony: "He pleased God." By faith, he walked with God in a pleasing manner. By faith, he walked in agreement with God. By faith, he was obedient to the things God led him to do.

Enoch was one of two men who did not taste death; rather was taken by God. If I understand it correctly, Elijah was the other. They were taken by God. We have the account of Elijah being taken in 2 Kings 2:11. He and Elisha were walking along, "And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." (2 Kings 2:11)  We are not told the manner in which Enoch was taken. It doesn't really matter how he was taken, but we know he pleased God and was taken by God. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:51, "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,"  Enoch did not die, but he was changed.

Whether God would take me or whether I die the death of man, I pray that I would have the grace to walk with God and seek to please Him while on this earth.

Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Daily Devotion: Psalm 88:1-4

By
Psalm 88:1-4  A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. "O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:  (2)  Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;  (3)  For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.  (4)  I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength" I've said this before and I will say it again (and probably more times before we get to the end of the Psalms) - I love the Psalms because I can surely identify with them. Most Psalms start in a low place and as the writer expresses his thoughts, the Lord begins to lift him up out of that dry place.  Though this entire Psalm is a fervent cry unto the Lord, the Psalmist tells us specifically in three verses that he cried daily unto the Lord. Just a few Psalms ago, we were reminded that God always hears our prayers. ...
Read more

Daily Devotion: Psalm 100:1-5

By
Psalm 100:1-5   A Psalm of praise. "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.  (2)  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  (3)  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  (4)  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  (5)  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." "Know ye that the LORD he is God." As I read the 100th Psalm this morning, this verse seems to be the hinge upon which all the other verses are settled. Know ye that the LORD he IS God. Jesus prayed in His intercessory prayer, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3) We read in the book of Hebrews chapter 11:6, "... he that cometh to God must believ...
Read more

Daily Devotion: Mark 14:65-67

By
Mark 14:65-67    "And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.  (66)  And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:  (67)  And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth." It's always nice and sweet when Devotions make us feel good about ourselves. But sometimes the Word of God causes me to become uncomfortable. Today's verses bring me to that place. It would be so very easy for me to look at the contrast between what was happening to Jesus and what was happening with Peter. It would be very comfortable for me to sit here this morning and condemn Peter for standing outside by the fire while Jesus was inside being mocked, spat upon, and struck by the servants of the high priest. It would be easy for me to sit here and say, "...
Read more