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Gamble on HIM

Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists. (Blaise Pascal)

Wager, without hesitation, that HE exists. Gamble on the truth - not just a pittance, but all you have - because truth will surely reveal much more as you lean into it. God has more for us that we often realize, but until we put our faith out there a bit, we may not see what he has for us. Faith isn't just a belief - it is the heart's drive to see what is not seen, understand what is not known, and gain what we presently do not possess fully.

Words from wise people are like sharp sticks used to guide animals. They are like nails that have been driven in firmly. Altogether they are wise teachings that come from one Shepherd. (Ecclesiastes 15:11)

Scripture is not given to us just to fill our minds with verse upon verse. I used to think memorizing scripture was so doggone important - like an aim all its own. I soon realized memorizing it was a whole lot different than believing it and standing upon it. As soon as I realized I needed to put my trust in what I had memorized, I began to look at scripture just a bit differently. It wasn't the quantity I could amass as much as it was the dependence upon the words I took in.

Faith isn't built in a day. It requires taking in the truth, then placing one's trust in it, followed by actually taking steps to do as it instructs. Therein is the rub - we get the 'taking in' part pretty well, but when we are asked to 'trust' and 'act upon' it, we sometimes get all bundled up in what we see as impossible. Faith is really one act of obedience upon another - not just the 'belief' something good will happen. There are times when we just need to be obedient even when we see no evidence of anything "good" happening.

Wager without hesitation that HE exists - faith is oftentimes riddled with doubt. Doubt can cripple us if we allow it to overtake our faith. The real 'test' of our faith comes when we are willing to 'wager' everything - total abandonment to the trust we have that HE exists and will be with us as we take those steps of obedience. Will it always be easy? Definitely not. Will it require us to go beyond our limits? Definitely, otherwise it would not be trust! Just sayin!
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