September 28, 2020

BIBLE READING: Habakkuk 2:4
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.’
Habakkuk 2:4

Today, we are just going to look at verse four. In verses 2-3, we are reminded of God’s character. He will and always will keep His Word. Thus, we are urged to trust and wait because the Lord will be faithful. Here in today’s verse, we see the contrast between the unbeliever and the believer. Why is this important here? It is the reminder of who we were, who we are, and what God desires for us. In contrast displayed, God is referring to the Babylonian’s’ hearts being puffed up, this description can also be made of any person apart from salvation. He describes the root of every sin, pride. Pride can hurt the relationship between us and the Lord, because we may think we know a better way. Pride can also keep a person from coming to the Lord for salvation. The picture is painted of a person righteous in their own eyes. This is actually a very sad picture, but the next phrase is a picture of hope. The phrase “the just shall live by (his) faith,” is one of the most well-known in the Christian faith. For us to be righteous is to be right with God. This is only possible through salvation through Jesus Christ. For Old testament believers like Habakkuk, they looked to the future Messiah. They didn’t know all the details or when, but they put their faith that God would send the Messiah. We have faith in the finished work of Christ. While people like Habakkuk looked to the future, we look to the past. We are righteous because God justified us through Christ’s payment of our sin. We are made righteous by faith, and by faith we live. After Salvation, our life as God’s children should continue to be characterized by faith.
2 Corinthians 5:7 “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)” Remember, it is more important for us to walk with “blind faith” with God’s insight, than to walk with our sight and have no insight at all.

David Fulp II