Thought for Monday April 16th

April 16, 2012

A Series of Spiritual Ponderings

With Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn

This here series may seem a bit peculiar to some of ya’ll folks: but then life itself can be a tad bit peculiar some of the time.  Over the next few days the writer of these here thoughts has decided to take a gander at some spiritual insights from the perspective of Tom and Huck, a couple of characters from Mr. Mark Twains novels.

Next

Faith Is When What Seems Like it Ain’t - Is

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Hebrews 11:1-3

     But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

James 2:20-26

Quote of the Day

“There are those who scoff at the school boy, calling him frivolous and shallow.  Yet it was the school boy who said, Faith is believing what you know ain’t so.” – Mark Twain

Today’s Thoughts and Insights:

In an effort to instill a little Bible learn’n into poor Huck’s soul, the Widder Douglas shared the story of Abraham and Isaac; in the hopes that Huck might understand that God can make a way for a feller when the odds seem down right impossible.

And to make the matter even more worse it seems Huck’s best friend Tom was ponderin on similar such issues due to some of His Aunt Polly and cousin Mary’s lectures and teaching.

The joint effect of these here many encounters leads the boys to this following interaction:

Huck – Tom there’s somthin’ that’s been eatin’ at me all day and I just got to be asking ya what ya meant when ya said the other day we’s just got to have faith that things is gonna go good or we might as well be dead.

Tom – Well now Huck if’n I got the jest of it all about right from what Mary and Aunt Polly been a sayin’ – it seems that if we are gonna say we got faith: we gots to act like we believe what we say: whether we see the proof of it in front of our eyes or not.

Huck – Ain’t it kinda hard to believe in something we can’t be see’n with our own two eyes?

Tom – Well most often I reckon I would say yes, but I guess when it comes to God type faith – things works a tad bit different-like.

Huck scratches his foot with a stick and shakes his head; I reckon if you say so Tom, but it sure does seem a might confusin’ if’n ya be ask’n me.

Tom – Well Huck it’s somethin’ kinda like this:  you can’t really see the air that ya breath, can ya?

Huck – Nope less’n it’s blowin a might hard.

Tom – But what you’re a see’n aint the wind it’s the effect of the wind, don’t ya reckon?

Huck – Sounds bout right.

Tom – We’ll then that’s kinda how it is with God. You see He is like the air, you don’t see Him or it but you know you breath it in and it keeps you alive, just like you know God takes care of ya: and even though you don’t see God, if’n you look you can see the evidence of His works all around you.  But the real trick of it all is you got to believe all those things the ‘good book’ says whether you see the proof of it or not.

Huck – Well I reckon that is ‘bout as hard to do as it would be to swim the river back and forth to Jackson’s Island without a stoppin’ for a rest.

Tom –  Naw, Huck not if’n ya ask God to help ya with it – it ain’t.

Today’s Prayer

Father, there are days when it seems I have a little harder time walking by faith – but still I know you are faithful and that you got it all under control.  So help me to be better at letting the things I do be evidence of the faith I have in you.

“Nobody deserves to be helped who don’t try to help himself, and ‘faith without works’ is a risky doctrine.”

– Mark Twain

“I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken;

I’m accepted, you were condemned:

I’m alive and well, your spirit is within me,

Because you died and rose again.

Amazing love, How can it be

That you my King would die for me?

Amazing love, I know it’s true:

And it’s my joy to honor you,

In all I do, let me honor you. “

-  Lyrics from ‘Amazing Love’ by Billy James Foote