Hebrews 11
By Faith
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for. 3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.5By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age―and Sarah herself was barren―was enabled to become a father because he[a]considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country―a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring[b] will be reckoned."[c] 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.
23By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea[d] as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[e]
32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned[f]; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated― 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
FAITH can stand for Forsaking All I Trust Him.
Another acronym would be Fantastic Adventures In Trusting Him.
What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 tells us clearly that it is being sure of what we hope (in line with God's plan for us) for and certain (very very sure; absolutely sure; no doubt about it) of what we DO NOT SEE.
In the passage, so many examples of acts of faith were recorded. How true that these people commended for their faith indeed forsake their all and trust God to deliver them. Take for example, Moses. He forsake all the riches and glory as a King's son and gave his trust in God as he led the people of Israel out of Egypt. How much that will take! Imagine yourself in the shoes of Mosses, would you forsake all the 'luxuries' and exchange it for sufferings? Bear in mind that these sufferings are only on this earth, temporal. For these 'sufferings' in the eyes of others are what brings about eternal joy and blessings to come.
Look at all the examples of by faith. Don't they all experience fantastic adventures? Okay, maybe not so at their time. But as we ourselves look back now, don't you think those are really great adventures and experiences that only in trusting God will you receive? Look at each of their situations. They are in a position where they are not in control but they do have a choice. They could have gone the easy way out, but why do they choose to go the other way on the straight and narrow, the "uncertain"?
All of these people are commended for their faith, because they believe and trust God to deliver them. They have great faith, not in themselves or what they can do. Rather, they have faith in the God of all, the God of possibilities. How much is your faith? Is it worth to be commended for at the end of your race?
Have faith in God! Mark 11:22-24
Reflect: Have you been in situation when you cannot do anything about it? What did you do? Have you ever trusted God in situations like this and went with a decision by faith? How was it like? Do you think God is pleased with your actions? Why?
Windows Live Hotmail: Your friends can get your Facebook updates, right from Hotmail?.
Chat online and in real-time with friends and family! Windows Live Messenger
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment