I've got to tell you . . . I am REALLY enjoying Hebrews! I am currently at a faith-testing moment in my life as my job for next year hangs in the balance . . . God placed Hebrews into the mix of books to read for the BOOK Club at just the right time! I love when that happens.
One of my favorite parts of Hebrews has been chapter 11, where a "list" of sorts, the "pinnacles" of faith are listed and briefly discussed. I'm not going to write much more . . . the verses speak for themselves. Be encouraged . . . exemplify an "act of faith" in your life today!
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
~Hebrews 11:1-2 (The Message)
Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that--heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.
~Hebrews 11:13-16 (The Message)
By faith (by an act of faith) . . . Abraham . . . Isaac . . . Jacob . . . Joseph . . . Moses . . . Israel . . . Israelites . . . Rahab . . . Gideon . . . Barak . . . Samson . . . Jephthah . . . David . . . Samuel . . . the prophets . . .
~Hebrews 11:17-32 (The Message)
Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together and make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours."
~Hebrews 11:39-40 (The Message)
2 comments:
I'm reading the novel Night to my grade 12's. It is a very disturbing novel from the perspective of an actual survivor of Auschwitz, Elie Wiesel. He spends much of his time questioning his faith and trying to understand God. Many of the students ask about why God would allow such a thing or how do you keep a faith when you are going through something like Elie did. Hebrews 11 is the perfect answer. Our faith is fixed on what we can't see, not what we can see. We are looking for something better.
I too was struck by the people of faith.... yet their lives were "questionable". I am so thankful the Lord looks beyond us to our faith and our heart. I too wonder why God would allow bad / hard things to happen.... ultimately He wants us to turn to Him, and is hoping for that relationship.
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