Focus

Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.

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Read

Hebrews 11:1-7 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks.  By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.

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Reflect

What is Faith? Faith is trusting the Lord. Faith is the guarantee of things hoped for and the confidence of things unseen. We see this long list of heroes of faith in the Bible. They trusted God, gave their best, and He blessed them. The fact that God received Abel’s sacrifice stands as a testimony of his life and a witness before God of his faith. Enoch trusted in God and had so much faith he did not taste death. Noah trusted God and his works followed in building an ark that saved him from a flood that was never seen or even considered possible but he trusted God fully and it was attested to him as faith. All people have to step out in faith at some point.

While we can make a rational decision for Christ that element of faith, trust in the unknown that God revealed in the Scriptures, still requires a leap into the unknown when following the Lord our God. God will continue to be a mystery to us no matter how informed our decision for Christ is. Perhaps one of my favorite scenes in cinema is in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Indiana is in a race to get to the Holy Grail before his dad dies from a gunshot wound to the stomach. He must step out of a precipice and trust that he will not fall. He steps out and his faith is rewarded. Much like us, when we receive Christ, we step out in faith and when we trust in Christ our faith is rewarded by the forgiveness, the loving arms of God and the relieving of heavy burdens.

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Pray

Heavenly Father, thanks for those saints who came before us and showed us how to live in faith and trust in you. Help us to be more like them.

Go with God!