“Now faith
is the substance of our hoping, the evidence of our undertaking, not of our
seeing.” Hebrews 11:1 (SyS translation)
is the substance of our hoping, the evidence of our undertaking, not of our
seeing.” Hebrews 11:1 (SyS translation)
In
2013,what does our faith look like? The elements of faith have not changed. The
author of Hebrews explains
“faith” as best as he can. Faith has both substance and evidence. In
other words, faith is based on something. Faith is formed out of something.
Faith acts to possess the reality of its substance. So, the issue is neither
what is faith nor what does it look like. The issue is our hoping and our
actions that make the hoping a reality.
2013,what does our faith look like? The elements of faith have not changed. The
author of Hebrews explains
“faith” as best as he can. Faith has both substance and evidence. In
other words, faith is based on something. Faith is formed out of something.
Faith acts to possess the reality of its substance. So, the issue is neither
what is faith nor what does it look like. The issue is our hoping and our
actions that make the hoping a reality.
The author
of Hebrews knows his explanation is inadequate so he follows up his explanation
with several examples of men and women whose actions demonstrate their faith.
of Hebrews knows his explanation is inadequate so he follows up his explanation
with several examples of men and women whose actions demonstrate their faith.
Now, what
are you hoping for? What is your hope? The promises of God? What is the
evidence in our lives that we are living in faith? The old, worn-out adage,
“seeing is believing” is false. Seeing is no more than seeing. Sight neither
gives faith nor demonstrates faith. Anyone who sees can know the reality.
are you hoping for? What is your hope? The promises of God? What is the
evidence in our lives that we are living in faith? The old, worn-out adage,
“seeing is believing” is false. Seeing is no more than seeing. Sight neither
gives faith nor demonstrates faith. Anyone who sees can know the reality.
But God’s
promises are not yet fulfilled. They remain in our hoping and are received by
faith. This does not make them any less real or any less demanding of action.
We live by faith and not by sight! Jesus said, “blessed are they that have not
seen, and yet have believed (Jn. 20:29b).”
promises are not yet fulfilled. They remain in our hoping and are received by
faith. This does not make them any less real or any less demanding of action.
We live by faith and not by sight! Jesus said, “blessed are they that have not
seen, and yet have believed (Jn. 20:29b).”
Be assured
of this: “God has prepared some better things for us, so that no one person of
faith should be made perfect without us” (Heb. 11:39).
of this: “God has prepared some better things for us, so that no one person of
faith should be made perfect without us” (Heb. 11:39).
Dear
Father, thank you for your promise and faithfulness to us. Enable us to truly
live by faith in 2013. I pray this prayer in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Father, thank you for your promise and faithfulness to us. Enable us to truly
live by faith in 2013. I pray this prayer in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Hope and
act in faith today,
act in faith today,