When Michele and her family felt God inviting them to live in a missional community in Peru, they knew that moving to another culture would come at a cost. But they said yes: “It’s about putting God first: whatever God has called us to do, we do it.” Over the years they’ve faced challenges, such as waiting for provisions and help, but through these trials they trust God even more: “He’s never, ever, let us down.” Sometimes their faith would be “a bit shaky” but whatever happens, they find that “God is so, so faithful.”
The writer to the Hebrews defines faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). He shares how Old Testament believers served God “by faith”: “by faith Abel . . .” (v. 4); “by faith Noah . . .” (v. 7); “by faith Abraham . . .” (v. 8); “by faith . . . Sarah . . .” ( v. 11). The writer seemingly throws up his hands with so many examples to share: “I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak . . . about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice and gained what was promised . . .” (vv. 32–33, abridged).
When we put our faith in God, He commends us with delight and shows Himself faithful. In life we might not receive what we’re promised (v. 39), but we know that God will not fail us.
By Amy Boucher Pye
REFLECT & PRAY
How has God strengthened your faith and belief in Him? In which parts of your life could you trust Him more?
Faithful God, thank You for being utterly trustworthy, even though I might not always perceive You at work. Build my faith in You.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Writing to encourage Jewish believers in Jesus to remain faithful during suffering brought about by severe persecution, the unnamed author of Hebrews named specific well-known people from Israel’s history who’d lived “by faith” (11:4–32) and stressed that many others too had lived that way (vv. 32–38). Also known as the “Hall of Faith,” Hebrews 11 reminds us that “without faith it is impossible to please God” ( v. 6). “Faith,” according to the writer, “shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see” (v. 1 NLT). The faithful showed what faith looks like when they unwaveringly held on to God’s promises to them, even though “none of them received what had been promised” in their lifetime (v. 39).
K. T. Sim
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