What a gift we have in The book of Hebrews. (Am I allowed to say that about one book of the Bible?) Hebrews 11 is where I consistently come back to in order to find encouragement when life gets hard. Faith is not easy. I’m a visual learner. If I can see it, I can do it. I just have to look at a map once to get an understanding of where I am and where I need to go. Life, however, is more about faith than a detailed map of every step.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
Hebrews 11:1-3 NIV
We see so little in this world. We can’t see the intentions behind the words spoken by another. We can’t see the hurt that oozes out of the bully at school. We can’t see pain that our unfiltered words have on those we love. We can’t always see the ways God is working in us and through us. We especially can’t always see the work God is doing in the lives of others.
Faith…believing and trusting that there is work happening, that there is a God who hasn’t given up on us, that there is more than what we can see. We are reminded of this in Hebrews. The stories listed are ones we have read before. To have them in one place is a gift that God has given us. A reminder of what we already know but need to be reminded of. It’s as if our God knows us and what we need!
What is God reminding you of today through the familiar stories and lives listed in Hebrews 11?
I am reminded that there is so much more than this life/world.
“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.”
Hebrews 11:13 NIV
Dear God, thank you for the gift of your word. Thank you for the repeated reminders of who you are and who we are in this world. God, as we seek to live the life you have given us may we be reminded of how much more there is than we can see. Show us yourself. Guide us. Give us eyes to see you and your work. We love you!! Amen!
Mandy
Sixty-six books in a year 