Tag: Hebrews 11
Faith Pleases God
Scripture reading for October 28: Hebrews 11
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, through he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:1-6
In this chapter of Hebrews, we have the record of some of those in Scripture who by faith pleased God. An initial step of faith is to believe that God exists, although He is Spirit and cannot be seen with the human eye. Further progress in pleasing God comes when we choose to believe that God created the universe. Scripture offers the story of creation in the early chapters of Genesis and plainly states that God through the Holy Spirit brought creation into being through His Word out of nothing. It also states that man was created by God in His own image and likeness.
In this passage two people are mentioned as having faith that pleased God. Abel, the son of Adam, pleased God when he brought a blood sacrifice in contrast to Cain, his brother, who brought produce from the ground. God commended Abel and rebuked Cain. Although Abel was murdered by Cain, through his act of faith he is still speaking to us today! His reward was to be commended by God and written in God’s book. Enoch was the seventh generation from Adam and he chose to walk with God. He walked so closely, that he was taken right up to heaven as a reward. God is pleased with faith and rewards those who seek Him by faith through His sacrifice, His Son Jesus Christ. All who believe and walk with Him await the reward–eternal life in Father’s house!
If you stood before God today, are you assured by this passage that you would please God? Have you come before God with the final blood sacrifice that He has already accepted? Does Enoch’s reward give you confidence to walk by faith each day?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for all those recorded in Scripture who have walked by faith and pleased You. Thank You for Your Son, Who ultimately walked by faith in every Word You spoke, offering His own blood as the final sacrifice for sin. I await my reward! Amen.
Faith and pleasing God!
Scripture reading for October 27th: Hebrews 11
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Hebrews 11:1-3,6 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of 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. . . . And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
God is invisible to sinful man. Because of sin, mankind has been cut off from beholding God for his own good and well-being. Sin cannot exist in the holiness of God’s glorious presence. But those who have had a relationship with God since Adam have come to Him by faith. They trust and are certain of God’s person and goodness. They believe that God created the visible world out of nothing at His own command. They understand that God is good and will reward those that believe although they cannot visibly see Him.
Observations for over-comers: Our faith will be rewarded eternal life and beholding God face to face in His glory! “Then Moses said, “Now show me Your glory.” . . . “But,” He said, “you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live.” (Exodus 33:18, 20)
Jesus: Author of our Faith
Scripture reading for October 28th: Hebrews 11
“He who is coming will come and will not delay. But My righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” (Hebrews 10:37-38) “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.”. . . “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:1, 6)
Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of our faith! (Hebrews 12:2) He has told His people that He will return for them at an unspecified time in the future. Even though it may appear that much time has passed, He will be true to His holy Word. (Matthew 24:35-36,44) Those who follow Him must live by faith in that truth and order their lives accordingly. We must have confidence in God’s Word and His promises, being certain of what we are told to hope for even though we don’t see it. This is the essence of faith. It is not dependent on sight or on circumstances, but keeps on believing and living like God’s Word is Truth.
Ancient’s were the people of faith who lived before the time of Christ. They were commended and rewarded by God for their faith. They trusted in the revelation of God’s promises and plans that was given them and ordered their lives accordingly. Noah built an ark to save his family, Abraham left his home and followed God to a place where God promised him inheritance. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac, believing God could raise him from the dead. Many others are listed as walking in faith and pleasing God. We must persevere in our journey to see Jesus!