The Faith to Obey

One year ago this last Sabbath, I was seated in the home of a young Methodist couple – Paul and Sara Jacokes. Our topic that night was the judgment and I felt strongly impressed that I needed to make another appeal for them to begin keeping the Sabbath in light of the fact that Jesus’ blood cannot cover willful transgression. I remember distinctly how difficult it was for me to make this appeal but how God gave me the words to say. You can read that entire appeal in a post I wrote later that night here. I knew they were convicted and loved Jesus but I could see the struggle they were having to step out in faith to go against the crowd and embrace God’s Sabbath.

Within two weeks of that Bible study, Sara developed an excruciating pain in her side that made her bedrest for the remaining two months of her pregnancy. That meant it was nearly 3 months before we resumed Bible studies. I’ve wondered all this time why God allowed that major distraction in their lives. Last week I discovered the reason.

I was once again at their home for Bible study and Sara asked me if God allows trials in our life for a purpose. I told her that He did. Then with tears she told me that those 3 months were the hardest their family has faced. Paul had to take several months off work to stay home with their first child and during that time he began spending an hour reading His Bible every morning. His love for God grew and not long after we resumed our studies, he told Sara he was ready to begin keeping the Sabbath.

As she told me this story, it hit me! I'd been praying they would keep the Sabbath, but God knew that Paul and Sara did not have the faith to obey. How could they develop that faith? He allowed a fiery trial in their lives to drive them to the word for “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17. The word built their faith and love relationship with God to the point they were ready to obey. And all that time I thought this was a distraction! It was the very thing needed for them to do what I had appealed to them to do!!

What an amazing God!

Now a year later, on October 20, 2007, Paul and Sara were baptized into the Lansing Adventist Church. That was a very special day for me and them. It is beautiful to see the spiritual journey they have been on.

Their experience has completely revolutionized the way I am going to pray for my Bible study contacts and for my own heart. Lord, if our love for you and faith in you is not strong enough to lead us to obey you, do whatever it takes to develop that faith in us. It will be worth whatever pain endured!