Hebrews 11-13
December 31, 2014


In Chapter ll the entire conversation is about having faith.   Here's the deal: faith is simply accepting that what God (whom we have not seen) exists, and that He has an interest in you personally.   It doesn't do any good to accept the first part without the second, because it is through the second part that all the ancients are commended.   What I mean is this:  in every case the people spoken of in Chapter 11 (and many more) did something that didn't seem to make sense simply because they believed that God wanted them to.    Building an ark when it hasn't ever rained is idiotic.   Unless God says "build it".  Then obedience becomes faith.
If you want to have faith, then you must DO something.  If you never act, then you cannot be said to truly have faith.   Look at the people listed again....every one of them took some action, something that was truly beyond themselves.

Sometimes I read quickly over these names, looking for the great challenges and promises of the next chapters.  But the promises are only for those who understand and live by the guidelines in chapter 11.

Most people smile and cheer at "casting off everything that hinders" but then doubt or fear prevent them from doing whatever it was the God whispered in their ear.   It might be offering a testimony, changing a job, ...anything.    Maybe the big step of faith is having the baby instead of getting an abortion.   Maybe it's saying "no" to a bad habit...who knows?    God could ask you anything.

I encourage you today to be a person who lives by faith.  In order to do that, you will have to ask God every day what He wants of you...and then be listening for His voice.

I promise that if you practice this, you will become a true person of faith, and you will never regret it.



PR