THURSDAY 4th
Hebrews 11:8-16
I will continue today with another look at the subject of faith drawing from this chapter. As I have been preparing, what I want to share in this devotion is too long for one, so will break it in such a way as to share over three days.
Verses 1-3 ‘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.’
I use the English Standard Version, which in verse 2 uses the phrase ‘received their commendation’
This is how it is translated in another six translations:
NIV ‘This is what the ancients were commended for’
NLT ‘Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation’
CSB ‘For by it our ancestors won God’s approval’
NASV ‘For by it the men of old gained approval’
NKJV ‘For by it the elders obtained a good testimony’
KJV ‘For by it the elders obtained a good report’
Also, from the Amplified Bible, ‘For by this [kind of] faith the men of old gained [divine] approval.’
I wonder what each of these words conjure up in your mind when you put them into the context of living a life of faith?
In the normal usage of the terms I conjure up the following:
Commended reminds me of a flower or fruit show where an individual is commended for their effort, obviously hoping to be the highly commended choice.
Earned a good reputation reminds me of an individual who has excelled in his trade and as a result of his excellent work such as a blacksmith, or painter and decorator they have a good reputation in the sphere of their trade. You would have no questions over recommending him (or her) to someone and you would not hesitate to give them doing a job to do for yourself.
Won approval or gained approval reminds me of something like an award given to a company or an individual who has achieved the highest standard in design, or quality of product and therefore are given a seal of approval. Much like a company that has been given the Queens stamp of approval.
A good testimony reminds me of someone who is an individual of good upright standing in the community, however hard you tried you would not be able to point the finger of suspicion towards them for anything.
A good report reminds me of the end of the school year report that goes home to the parents – I think in all my years at school I failed to receive a good report! Always could have done better or needs to improve in this or that area!
I’ve drawn the varied conclusions because at the end of each day and at the end of our earthly lives every single one of us should have sought to have lived in such a way as believers that God could use any of these phrases to sum us up.
So how can we assure ourselves of receiving a commendation, a good reputation, a good testimony, a good report, or God’s approval? Hebrews 11 answers it for us, it is BY FAITH, by living a life of faith. It happens when we learn to totally rely on and trust in God and this trust needs to be evidenced in every area of our lives. Let us remind ourselves what Hebrews 11 says: ‘Now faith
is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it (that is by faith) the people of old received their commendation, or good report, approval etc.
Although I use the ESV, if I had to choose any of the translations or phrases from the list already mentioned it would be difficult. I want to have a good report, I want to be commended, I want that I would have a good reputation, I want to have a good testimony, I want to gain or have God’s approval, it should be the desire of each one of us and I want that it is not just something that will be a final analysis when I have died as the Hebrew writer is doing here about the various characters, but that it could be said of me now, but I know that far too often I fail, but then I am reminded that at times so did these OT heroes, and God didn’t give up on them and he will not give up on us, we are still work in progress.
But if I had to choose and there is the sense in that we agree whichever phrase is used we know what the writer is meaning, I would choose ‘God’s approval’ (the NAS and CSB) we will continue from here tomorrow with my reason why.
I have chosen a hymn today which is one of my favourites, it reminds me that to know God’s approval in our lives we need to align our heart to his will, which comes through in the words of the hymn. It is a hymn that was constantly my prayer while growing up, ‘ready for all thy perfect will,’
O Thou Who camest from above,
The pure celestial fire to impart,
Kindle a flame of sacred love
On the mean altar of my heart.
There let it for Thy glory burn
With inextinguishable blaze,
And trembling to its source return,
In humble prayer and fervent praise.
Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire
To work and speak and think for Thee;
Still let me guard the holy fire,
And still stir up Thy gift in me.
Ready for all Thy perfect will,
My acts of faith and love repeat,
‘Til death Thy endless mercies seal,
And make my sacrifice complete.
Charles Wesley CCLI788682