Hebrews 11:1-3

Summary retelling of Hebrews 11:1-3

This chapter is all about faith.  Faith is being sure of that which we know is God’s ultimate will.  Faith is being convicted of the things that are not always obvious.  Faith is the basis upon which God commended those spiritual people who have come before us. Faith is how we even begin to understand that the physical world was created out of the invisible world.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

One of the key words in this section is assurance.  It is difficult to choose right.  Some of the time it is difficult to even know what is right – much less choose it!  Assurance is important because when things are not easy or simple we need something to help bolster us inside.  That is part of the job of faith.  It is faith that helps us step out when we are unsure.  It is faith that helps us come to God and genuinely seek out what is right.  It is faith that helps to keep us focused and on track.

Where do you need the most assurance in your life?  Are there any debates or discussions about which you need constantly reassured? 

Second Thought:

Faith is the element that the spiritual people before us found being praised by God.  God doesn’t demand perfection.  God knows we can’t get it right.  God even knows that when we make the right choice things still won’t always work out.  God asks us to entrust the results to Him.  What God desires is that we put ourselves in a position and a mindset to act.  Our faithfulness follows God, putting trust in His ability to make His will come out of our desire to follow His calling.  Faith is our ability to humble ourselves before Him and trust that He knows what is best and He can bring about that reality.  It is this quality that we find being praise over and over again in the Old and the New Testaments.

What Bible characters would you say are particularly faithful?  What stories can you think of that demonstrate that although the people weren’t perfect – and maybe the results weren’t perfect either – God still commended those in the story for being faithful?

Third Thought:

Faith is also the element with us that allows us to attribute that which we cannot see to God.  In fact, faith is what allows us to think that God could be the source of that which we do see!  It is faith that allows us to even conceive of the notion that God is responsible for it all.  Faith is what allows us to look beyond the evidence of our eyes and gaze into the unknown while knowing that we will find God there.

Have you ever “gazed into the unknown” knowing that you will find God?  If so, how did it feel?  What was it like to go looking for God knowing that you would find Him but not really knowing how?  In what way is this idea really just a small analogy for our whole spiritual life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Hebrews 11:4-7