Faith is essential if we are going to desire a relationship with God; it is what pleases him. Scripture reminds us we must lean into God’s loving nature, trust his Word and believe he does what he says. Faith is focused wholeheartedly on God and his righteousness, always requires action on our part [never passive], and is demonstrated through our obedience.
In our passage today, we read about faith in action. This chapter of the letter to the Hebrews is referred to by theologians as the Hall of Faith. These men and women fought the good fight of faith—walked through the valley of uncertainty with God—to lay hold of victory because he or she trusted God when they could not see clearly in the natural.
If these men and women would have allowed their desires, personal interests, or situations to decide their direction, they would have failed to apprehend the blessings of God. Without God it would have all been impossible; and they recognized the truth. That was the point. These people did not make things happen; active faith in God and a desire to seek his will for them brought the blessings—moved mountains. Please note these were not religious people, they were ordinary folks learning to walk by faith.
We are learning to walk by active faith, as well. Our hope must be placed in God alone; the Lord is the Author of our faith—the beginning and the end. He is our Provider who leads us on the path of righteousness. By faith, God will help us trust in him and grow in his character. Life may bring challenges, but God is our Deliverer and he will make sure to bring his highest and best into our lives when we desire to please him.
Hebrews 11:1-12 NLT Great Examples of Faith
1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.
3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.
5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
7 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.
11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed[b] that God would keep his promise. 12 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.
Prayer: Lord, faith does not always make sense to our natural minds, but your Word reminds us it is always powerful to bring breakthroughs. Your greatest desire for us is to learn your ways and to experience your heart and love for us. This new year, we ask you to lead us, prosper us, multiply us, and grant us the blessing of furthering the manifestation of your Kingdom on earth. Thank you, Lord, for giving us the desire to walk with you along the righteous path you shared with our heroes of the faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.