God Speaks
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.
3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.
5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
7 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.
11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. 12 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.
13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. 15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.
20 It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.
21 It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.
22 It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.
23 It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.
24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. 27 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. 28 It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.
29 It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.
30 It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.
31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
32 How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35 Women received their loved ones back again from death.
But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36 Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38 They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection
Hebrews chapter 11 is the great “Hall of Faith” in the scriptures. It not only defines faith but gives “living” examples so that we can know what it looks like and accomplishes. Instead of listing them again, the author of this blog recommends that the reader reread the chapter, pick out one hero, research how that person exemplifies faith and then seek to emulate them.
Prayer
Thank You, LORD, for these heroes and role models of what it means to have faith and persevere. Increase my faith so that I am sure of the things I hope for and convinced of things that can’t be seen, yet. May I live as if I really believe that what I pray for is already in existence, leaving it in Your hands to carry out Your will. Help me to remember that: without faith it is impossible to please You. I want to draw near to You. I do believe that You exist and that You reward those who diligently seek You. By faith I understand that the universe was created by Your word. By faith, like Abel, I will offer You acceptable sacrifices. By faith, like Noah, I will build my life on Your word and save those around me as You direct. By faith coupled with obedience, like Abraham, I will receive Your promise of blessing. By faith, like Sarah, I will see You do what is humanly impossible. Just as Abraham (in essence) received Isaac back from the dead by faith, I look forward to seeing dear ones raised from spiritual death to vibrant life in Christ. By faith I want see into the future as Isaac did on behalf of Jacob and Esau, and Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph. By faith Joseph predicted and managed the great famine and anticipated the Exodus. By faith Moses was rescued as an infant, identified with the people of God, escaped a charge of manslaughter, kept the Passover, led Your people through the Red Sea on dry land and saw the Egyptian army drowned. By faith many others did so many exploits. Sometimes they saw the outcome of their faith in their lifetimes, sometimes not. However, in each instance faith was coupled with obedience. May I and Your other followers, now and on into whatever future You give us on this earth, continue by faith and obedience to reveal Your glory to those around us. AMEN
Action
(Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
I will research my “faith family tree” (those who were believers before me, demonstrated faith and prayed for me or led me to faith in Christ) and thank God for those who paved the way for me to be born again in Christ Jesus.
I will ask the LORD to whom He wants me to be a good role model and mentor.
I will keep a journal of things for which I am personally trusting God.
I will give my testimony of God’s faithfulness in a group setting sometime this week.
Share
I plan to share what I’ve learned with _________.