Friday 2 May, 2014

11 Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see. 2 That is what the people of long ago were praised for. 3 We have faith. So we understand that everything was made when God commanded it. That’s why we believe that what we see was not made out of what could be seen.

Wow, what a passage to blog on!  And it’s hitting me right where I’m at.  In verse 1 the writer gives us the complete definition of Faith and then he follows his definition with 2 examples if what he means – something near in the ancestors and then something a little further away, … creation of the Universe!

Two words stand out to me – sure and certain in verse 1. I started to think about my hopes – am I sure and certain about them or just so so – that would be nice?  I am sure and certain about the writers 2 examples, the ancestors faith, that he goes on to talk about in the rest of the chapter, and I am sure and certain that God created everything (Gen 1) – the Universe is just too intricate and amazing not to be (eg. Louie Giglio – Presence Conference).  But what about my faith in what I hope for, the things yet to be seen?  Am I as sure and certain – do I have the faith that God is there in my circumstances in my hopes?

The writer of Hebrews is encouraging his readers that God is there with them and to raise their faith in Him by two things that are already certain.  Same for me.  God is challenging me to raise the bar to be more active with my expectations/my hope of things not yet seen to that of sure and certain – to do this I have to engage the spiritual realm where God is – there is no other option.

Father, thank you for your timely challenge to me in this passage – to raise my faith bar in You – to engage even more in Your realm – to trust You that things that I don’t yet see, you are in control of, to bring into being.

Written by Suzie Hodgson