Hebrews 11:1  “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

When Peyton Manning hit a record setting touchdown pass with the Indianapolis Colts many years ago….something struck me and impressed me.

• It wasn’t the fact that he stepped into the pocket to EXACTLY the right spot to launch the ball given the rush that he was facing….though that was awesome.
• It wasn’t the velocity he put on the ball as he made the throw….though that was cool too.
• It wasn’t the accuracy with which he threw the ball….but that was impressive.
• It wasn’t the fact that he got his team in the right play call, that he verified it with his eyes after catching the snap, or that he threw it to exactly  the right spot AT THE RIGHT time to totally  take advantage of that defense….but that was incredible.

What struck me was the FAITH that he showed in dropping that pass in.  Watching from the right angle, one could observe that he made the throw BEFORE Brandon Stokley  had even entered into his break.  In layman’s terms, Stokley was going away from the ball when he Manning threw the ball.  When he broke his route back inside, the ball was on him and he caught it for touchdown 49…a then NFL record.

FAITH in the play, FAITH in his teammates, FAITH in his coaches, and FAITH in himself made it possible for Manning to be great on that day and on many others.

You see, great things are originated when we act in FAITH.  But we, in fact, must see it before it comes to fruition.  You see, God tells us:  “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain  of what we do not see.”  It is us acting BEFORE we know that something will work.

A  carpenter uses it when he builds something.

An engineer when he designs something in the shop.

A teacher sees the lesson before it is presented, anticipating spots of clarification.

And so it goes.

The Lord values this quality in us…..and, in fact, it is one of the few things that we can give Him.   That is why  He values it SO MUCH.  See, we can give Him sin, and heartache, and shortcomings, and brokenness…..it is in our nature to see what is broken….to see what we do not have.

But the Lord is asking us to look at what we DO HAVE.  To celebrate what we have and to have FAITH in Him to do something even greater with it.

How foolish Noah must have looked when he began construction of that boat.

How did Abraham look when he left a good situation for hope of a greater one?

And what about Paul?  He took his privileged life and threw it away because of an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

But it isn’t just biblical characters…..

Many admire Tim Tebow…..a football warrior FULL of faith.

Or Ben Carson…..a poor young man who came from inner city  Detroit to become a national (in my mind) hero.

The list goes on and on.

And so I ask you…..what will YOU DO with what the LORD has given you?  Jesus says He can take FAITH the size of a mustard seed and do something great with it…..

So what is He calling you to be?  Is it a call that is higher than what you could fathom on your own accord?  I hope so, because that would mean it is probably from Him.

We serve a big God….a God who loves us without borders…..a God that did something radical when He measured us out and discovered that we could not pay the debt….He sent His Son down to do it—-and He stretched out on that cross on Calvary and uttered with His last breath:  “IT IS PAID IN FULL”…..Think about it….What on earth was He paying for?

Maybe it was so we could say:  “I am forgiven….and I am going to live the same way I did before I knew this.”

But I have to think it was for a different reason……I have to think it was to inspire us to RECEIVE HIS UNFATHOMABLE GRACE and respond with a life that screams out that we have FAITH!!

If He can use a guy like Peyton to inspire (no offense to him) then He can use a person like you:

• As the “rush” is coming at you, step into the place where you can launch….not fearing the hit but SEEING the TD.
• Throw that ball or shoot that arrow with VIGOR,  with the speed it needs to be propelled in order to stick into the target.
• Aim with discernment…..aim at a target that you have been praying for…or about….and let prayer be your guide in that aim.
• Get your life in the right “play call” given the defense that you see.  Make sure that as the play is going, you “verify” with your eyes and carry it out.

And lastly, show FAITH….in the play, the players, the coach, in all who are in that mix with you as you try to execute…….because if the LORD is with you, who can be against you?

In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

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Coach J