“Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the
heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have
been occupied therein.” Heb.13:9
Therefore, sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of
the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the seashore innumerable. These all
died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were
persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and
pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a
country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out,
they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country,
that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath
prepared for them a city.” Heb.11:12-16.
There are very important lessons we learn from the above scripture. God made a
promise to Abraham that He will not only give him and his seed the land of Canaan but
will multiply his seed as numerous as the stars of heaven or the sand on the seashore.
“And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and
look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for
all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.” Gen.13:14-15.
“Also, I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger,
all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” Gen.17:8.
“Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if
you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
Gen.15:5. “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as
the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall
possess the gate of his enemies;” Gen.22:17.
God fulfilled these promises but not in Abraham’s lifetime. (Heb.11:12-13). This
highlights two important truths about an established hear. The first truth is the
faithfulness of God to keep His promises. The second truth is that an established heart
is patient. An established heart will keep faith alive no matter how long it takes for the
promise to materialize.
Thought for the week
Impatience can make you settle for less than God’s best for you.