Mobile Faith

Devotional Reading: Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan. Joshua 3:17 ESV

Welsh missionary Rees Howells once left for his mission field without the funds to even catch the next train. He and his wife were headed to Africa in 1915. They had been given money to get them to London, where they would receive more money for the journey. But they had also been directed by God, as a general policy, to spend available funds on immediate expenses and trust him for later ones—“first need, first claim.”

When an expense came up before his train trip to London, Howells followed his normal procedure. He emptied his pockets on the prior claim. He and his wife had only enough to get to the next station and wait.

So that’s what they did. They traveled the first leg of the journey and then waited. Howells even stood in line at the ticket counter because, as he put it, God’s promises were as good as money in his pocket. As the line moved forward, Howells wondered what he would say at that potentially awkward moment when he arrived at the counter without any money. But as that moment neared, a man in line got tired of waiting, inexplicably handed his fare to Howells, and walked away. God had provided as Howells stood expectantly in line, trusting in a promise.

That’s a great picture of how God’s provision works—in response to faith and not a moment too soon. He also works in partnership with those who believe. Some step of faith, some indication that we are expecting an answer, some movement in the direction of our vision—like that first step of the priests into the Jordan before its waters parted—is enough to send the Father rushing toward us in response.

Faith begins in the heart, but it does not remain there. Immobile faith is often a sign of no faith at all. Not every story ends exactly the way Howells’ example did—God has a variety of responses to our trust—but many do. One way or another, trust is always rewarded. Faith that banks on God’s Word will always find him faithful.

Prayer and Confession
Jesus I trust you absolutely even when I don’t understand.

Further Reading: Joshua 3:9-17