2016 Annual Theme
Last year our theme was “Have Faith in God, for He is Faithful,” and God truly showed us just how faithful He is. We learned many lessons of faith, particularly through trials and testings. God showed us that He is good and can be trusted! This year in 2016 we must move “Forward by Faith!” We have much more to learn about what it means to walk by faith. The Epistle to the Hebrews is a powerful book which God will use to teach us to walk by faith. We will learn from the “heroes of the faith,” listed in Hebrews chapter 11, and discover how to trust God and His Word.
Hebrews 11:6 is our theme verse. It says, “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.”
The FOUNDATION of our faith is the Word of God. By it we learn who “He is” and what He has promised. God’s Word spoke the world into existence and sustains all things. We can trust God’s Word! It is the foundation of our faith.
The FOCUS of our faith is God: a personal relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ. God will bless those who “seek Him.” Not those who merely seek things from God, but those who diligently pursue a vital relationship with the God of heaven. God wants us to love Him for who He is, not only for what He does.
The FRUIT of our faith is promised reward! When we come to God based upon who He is, focused on the relationship He offers, we should expect our good God to honor His Word. God promises to bless and reward our faith. And He will! We must, however, allow God to be God and receive those blessings when and how God pleases. Many of the heroes of the faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 died having never seen the fulfillment of God’s promises in their lifetime. But they were content with God, and were confident that the reward would come, whether here or in heaven.
We must go FORWARD BY FAITH and allow God to mature us and grow us so we can receive the fullest of God’s blessing upon our lives.