Now faith is
confidence in what we hope for and
assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1
Hebrews 11 provides an apt definition of faith. Many of us may have learned the King James Version:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
If we had all the details, all the whys and what-fors … if we knew everything we would face … if we were clued in to precisely what would happen … would it really require faith?
The faith verse above opens the “Hall of Faith Chapter” and is essentially a who’s who of Old Testament greats who walked in faith before the cross. “By faith” is the hallmark phrase of this powerful chapter:
- By faith, Abel offered…
- By faith, Noah built…
- By faith, Abraham obeyed and went…
- By faith, Isaac blessed…
- By faith, Joseph spoke…
- By faith, Moses chose to be mistreated…
- By faith, the people passed through the Red Sea…
Their lives teach us that faith must be converted into action. James confirms in the New Testament that “faith without works is dead.” Our faith in God both prompts and propels us to raise our shields high and walk forward where He sends.
To Abraham, God said, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you….” Leave everything familiar, everything and everyone you know. Just go. Set out. And where are you going? You’ll find out after you get started! Sounds crazy, but Abraham obeyed and went!
Moses walked out of the palace, leaving behind all its privileges and pleasures.
Daniel walked into the lion’s den.
The Israelites put trembling-but-determined toes into the Red Sea.
The Bible is filled with examples of ordinary men and women who walked out their faith in extraordinary ways … not through their own ability, but because of their faith in God’s ability.
Faith does not mean our reasoning and intellect are turned off. The exercise of our faith is not without basis. When I contemplate choices that require me to exercise faith, it’s as if I’m standing on the threshold, looking back at God’s faithfulness from my past as I prepare to walk forward into the future, trusting Him to continue to be faithful.
Faith means I can step out in confident hope and steadfast assurance – not because I know everything, but because I know the One who does.
What by faith choice is God calling you to make today?
Last Wednesday was the final lesson of Laura’s in-person ladies’ Bible study of II Corinthians. The teaching lecture in this week’s devotional video focuses on self-examination, then ends with Paul’s “Trinitarian Benediction” from II Corinthians 13:14 as he explores the grace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
We pray that this study has been a blessing to you. Thank you for joining us, whether online or in person. If you missed any of the previous teaching lectures, we invite you to visit our YouTube channel for the complete video playlist.
