Through Their Faith
Through Their Faith
Reading: Isaiah 19-21; Hebrews 11
1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. (Hebrews 11:1-2 NLT)
This is the “Faith Chapter!” The first two verses of Hebrews 11 define faith, verses 3 through 31 tell the stories of men and women of faith who lived and acted in faith, and verses 32 through 38 tell us about the results people experienced through faith.
Verse 32 through the first half of verse 35 gives examples of people who won victories, received blessings, and accomplished great things by faith. The last half of verse 35 through verse 38 tells about people who were imprisoned and tortured, who were martyred, who sacrificed everything through faith.
When I read this, I have to examine my faith and my attitude toward faith.
It’s too easy to drift into the mode of thinking that “If I live by faith, then I will be healed, blessed, protected, and live happily ever after.” Hebrews chapter 11 makes it very clear that there’s more to it than that! The “Faith Chapter” gives examples of people who lived by faith and had that kind of outcome. But the “Faith Chapter” also gives examples of people who lived by faith at the cost of everything – even their very lives! Throughout history and even today, there are Christ-followers whose faith has cost them everything in this life and on this earth. God approves of them and welcomes them to the eternal reward of their faith – in heaven!
It’s absolutely true that living by faith can lead to blessing and provision. It’s equally true that living by faith can lead to sacrifice and suffering for Christ. Our part of the equation is simply to believe God, trust Him, and act in obedient faith no matter what the outcome – no matter what the cost. The outcome is in God’s hands.
Prayer:
Father, I’m going to need some help with this! I’m afraid that much of the time my faith is entirely too “blessing oriented.” I want your blessings, I enjoy your blessings, and I have no wish to experience unnecessary pain, but I don’t want my faith to be defined only by what I get out of it. I believe your promises, and I trust your goodness, and I leave the outcome in your hands. Amen.