Tag: Better

Desire Through Faith

“16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” — Hebrews 11:16 (ESV)

They is all of those who were righteous in the eyes of God, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah. There are/were of course many others who were considered righteous and all of them were fully faithful to the LORD. They gave of themselves fully for things that seemed impossible, as they knew in their hearts that they would be delivered at the had of God. Each of these desired something better, a heavenly better and knew it would be provided through their faith.

What a great testament to me these are. They demonstrate their full faith and devotion to the LORD and in return, they knew that He would provide. There was not expectation of how, only that He would. They placed full faith in the LORD to provide for their desire for better.

I have to use this in my own life. I have to remember to place my full faith in the LORD, knowing that He will provide. I cannot expect things to go as I plan them, only that they are resolved. I have to be open to how the LORD will provide and simply do the work he has assigned me and live in faith that it will lead to the provision for better.

What a great other view at the idea that I should only desire the LORD. In this instance, I am to desire better, but only as God sees fit for me and have full faith that He will indeed provide. My desire is rooted in the LORD and His plan for me. I can want for things and hope that they will come. But my desire should be in the LORD and for things that will be better in His sight and know that through my faith in Him, I will get the better as He sees fit.

What do you desire? Are you putting all your hope into something that you want? What if you placed all your hope and faith in God knowing that He will provide the better that He has in store for you?

Desire for the Better

Each morning I come to my desk and bible study with an open heart and mind for the LORD to guide me as to what He would have me learn. And, each morning I am brought to the scripture where about half the time I have been been before, only this time to learn something new from the same verse or passage. This morning is not any different.

“21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.” – Philippians 1:21-26 (ESV)

I have been to this passage many times and have learned that it is important to remain here in this world to do the work that God has for me. I have to stay for the better of those in this world to bring the gospel to them so they have the opportunity to gain from salvation as I have.

But today I am here to learn about the other side, gaining from death and how I am to desire that gain for the reward that is to come in heaven. Paul writes that he desires the better, dying to be with Christ. What a great thing to set one’s sights, being with Christ because it is better than what is here and now.

I began my devoted morning bible study back in October of 2016 and the first of “Trevor’s Thoughts” was through a study of “Jesus is Better”. One of that study’s first lesson was centered on exploring your “kingdom purpose”. Here is one sentence from that writing, “Our ‘kingdom purpose’ comes to us by simply following the plan Christ has for us.” I wrote that on October 8, 2016 and it still holds true today. We are to follow the plan Christ has for us.

That plan is for us to be here doing His work, but the desire for the better, gaining through death to be with Christ is okay and encouraged. Where being with Christ is our ultimate destination, I still have work to do here in this world and as such, being with Christ is simply my desire and something that I will certainly be looking forward to reaching.

What is the work you have here in this world? Is that in line with your desire for the better? What if you kept doing the work of Christ for those here in this world and kept the desire for the better, being with Christ, as just that, the desire and the end destination to look forward to reaching?