Hebrews 11:1-12:29
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Today we read Hebrews Chapter 11, which is a great reflection of the faith of our spiritual ancestors in the Old Testament! Some call this chapter the "Hall of Faith" - as in the Hall of Fame.  :)  I would encourage you to read this chapter entirely today – and again tomorrow in its entirety. Chapter 11 opens with this critically important verse for us to memorize and take to heart: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Are you sure of what you hope for? Are you certain of what you do not see? As you read through this chapter, do you see the value in the faith of our spiritual ancestors? In what area of your life might God be calling you to step forward in faith?

Enoch in verse 5 is an intriguing example of faith coming from Genesis chapter 5's genealogy from Adam to Noah (see Genesis 5:24 at this link): "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."  Below is a painting of Enoch being taken up to heaven by the Italian painter Sebastiano Ricci (1659-1734):

Verses 13 through 16 I think are four of the most amazing verses we've read in Hebrews and I think each of us should really meditate on what these verses might mean in our lives today:  "All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back.  But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."  What do you think of these verses?  If these heroes of our faith died still believing what God promised them - even though they did not receive what was promised here on earth - do you think that perhaps you and I should always be faithful in our lives to God no matter what we may think we're not "receiving" here on earth?  If we're not receiving perfect health.  If we're not receiving a perfect job.  If we're not receiving a perfect family.  If we're not receiving a perfect mental state.  If not, if not, if not....  will we still believe what God promised us?  Will we still believe that God is not ashamed to be called our God?  Will we still believe that God has prepared a heavenly city for us?  Let us believe!

Hebrews 11 verses 25 & 26 today tell us so much about the character and faith of Moses! "He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of the Messiah than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the great reward that God would give him."  Do these verses speak to us today as well?  Will we share in the oppression of God's people?  Or do we enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin?  Do we suffer for the sake of Jesus?  Or would we prefer to chill out and hang out with our luxuries in life?  Do we look ahead to the great reward that God promises?  Will we pursue the character and faith of Moses in our own lives today?

Hebrews chapter 11 verses today finish out this chapter on "faith" strongly!  Please take a minute to re-read this entire chapter 11 if you can.  It is an amazing chapter of our spiritual ancestor's faith.  How does reading about our spiritual ancestor's faith speak into your life today?  Are their areas of your life where you can better live with faith?   Can you turn over your fears and anxieties to God, in faith?  Knowing, in faith, God will ultimately provide and thus there is nothing to fear or worry about today?

Hebrews 11 verse 38 stands out to me today: "They were too good for this world."  I think it is helpful to remember that this current world is not our ultimate eternal home.  It is temporary.  We're called to be saints and love others in this world.  But, we should not become too attached to it or what it offers.  God has a better home for us in mind at the end of our race - our journey through this life.   This verse says that our spiritual ancestors were too good for this world - and hence, many of them suffered.  But they suffered knowing it was temporary.  Impermanent.  I don't think that this verse should make us conceited or arrogant in any way - being "too good" for this world - but hopefully it helps us realize that this life is not necessarily going to be easy in this world if we are truly living in faith....   In fact, sometimes I wonder that if our life is really easy if we are really living our faith?  I just hope we never get complacent and chill out and relax because "we are so saved"....  There is a dying world out there that needs us!  How are you truly living your life in faith these days?

Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1 is phenomenal to think about - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress."   I think sometimes we think that we are doing this Christian walk / faith thing alone.  We think we are in this alone - just us & God.  I think this verse helps remind us that there is a huge crowd of witnesses that are in this with us.  I like to think of this cloud of witnesses cheering us on in our walk!  They are rooting for us!  So - in light of knowing we have these saints rooting for us, doesn't it make sense that we should strip away sin that hinders our walk?  Is there sin your life that is hindering your walk?  Will you allow Jesus to strip it away so that the cloud of witnesses can continue to cheer you on toward the finish line?  Below is an image of some of the "crowd of witnesses" to our life of faith - Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samson, and David:

How do we run this race toward the finish line well?  I think verse 2 tells us how - "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish."   Are your eyes on Jesus?  Constantly?   Does your faith depend solely on Jesus?   Is your faith as fresh today as when you first came to faith in Jesus? 

Verse 3 is a powerful reflection of Jesus' passion.... "Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up."  Think about what Jesus endured at the hands of the Roman guards.  Think about Jesus' resolve.  He was running the race toward the finish line.  Can reflecting on Jesus' passion help us resist becoming weary and giving up?  How often do you reflect on Jesus' passion?

Verses 5 & 6 quote Proverbs 3:11-12 and the following verses then go into explaining this wisdom of this Proverb - "My child, don't ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don't be discouraged when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as his children." Do you believe this proverb to be true?  Is the Lord perhaps disciplining you in some way today?  Are you accepting or ignoring the discipline?  Do you believe that the Lord disciplines those he loves?  And that this "divine discipline" is ultimately good for you and everyone you come in contact with in your life?

Hebrews chapter 12 verse 14 starts out strong with: "Try to live in peace with everyone, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord."  I love this!  If we seek to live in peace with everyone and live a clean and holy life people around us will see the Lord.  This is very powerful to think about...  You've probably heard this said before: "You may be the only Bible anyone ever reads".  Or "you may be the only Jesus anyone ever meets."  (not you being Jesus of course, but Christ within you shining through you!)  Are you living in peace with everyone?  Are you seeking to live a clean and holy life?  Are others seeing the Lord in you?  Are others reading the Bible through you?

Verse 28 stands out to me today: "Since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe." This is an interesting phrasing - worship God with holy fear and awe.  It reminds me a lot of a lyric in Chris Tomlin's single, "Indescribable."  He sings - "humbly we fall to our knees and say, "you are amazing God!""  That one word "humbly" jumped out at me in this song.  It seems to me that there should be some reverence, holy fear, awe, and humility as we worship God?  And maybe not just take worship and our relationship for God lightly?  But be thankful for the opportunity to worship God?  Just some questions...  Because then verse 29 tells us "For our God is a consuming fire."  Which reminds me of a great Third Day song....  :)

Worship Video:  Hebrews 12:29 of course reminded me of the fantastic Third Day song "Consuming Fire:"

Do you know our God who is a Consuming Fire? Click here for His flame to burn down deep in your soul!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you are living by faith. Pray that you are sure of what you hope for. Pray that you are certain of what you do not see. Pray that you are living by faith in Christ alone!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

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