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Daily Devotion June 6th

SATURDAY 6th

Hebrews 11:39-40

Continuing in Hebrews 11, these heroes of faith have been recorded for our benefit, to learn from their example, so that in turn we can learn to live by faith as well.

Let us remind ourselves of something vital that the writer records in this chapter: ‘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’ (v6)

By reason of our choosing to follow the Lord Jesus Christ we should be people who live ‘by faith’ a phrase which appears in this chapter about 17 times.

The phrase living by faith does not mean that we should all be living by faith in that we shouldn’t have gainful employment, and just expect God to prompt someone to drop an envelope through the door with a wad of money to get us by, (although in spiritual  ministry there are times when God does call some to live this way, but it is not the norm’) work is part and parcel of how God expects us to get by, (Genesis 2:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12) although there may be times when God does bless with unexpected gifts especially in tough times. It also doesn’t mean that when we are ill we refuse to take any medication or get medical help, living by faith means that we trust God firstly in the realm of salvation, then we trust God in the circumstances of our lives and we finally trust God in his provision for us into eternity.  It is putting our faith, or trust and confidence in an invisible God and in things we cannot see or maybe not even fully understand, and having an assurance in our hearts and a confident conviction and hope in the unravelling of God’s purpose in our loves. Our faith is linked to God’s faithfulness, and he is a faithful God. Lamentations 3:22-23 ‘The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.’

In Romans, Paul writes this 1:17 ‘For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, the righteous shall live by faith.’ This is linked to the previous verse where we read (1:16) ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.’ That is, that within the gospel of which Paul was not ashamed, the righteousness of God is revealed, and the righteous, (that is those who have been justified by faith and transformed by this gospel) shall live by faith.

In John 14:1 just prior to his crucifixion, Jesus speaking to the disciples said this: ‘Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.’ The NLT uses the word TRUST, we have been called to a life that totally, fully relies on, believes in or trusts in God, that is a life of faith, and at the end of the journey a report will be given, and what will it say?

The Apostle Paul said this in his first epistle to Timothy (6:12) ‘Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.’

In his second epistle to Timothy he says this: ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith’ he continued: ‘Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.’

In these two Scriptures  when Paul talks of having ‘fought the good fight of the faith’ and of ‘keeping the faith’ here the word faith is used to describe his keeping or holding onto the message of the gospel, but at the same time he has held onto it by faith. 

We know what we have believed, that is the ‘Faith’ to which we have been called to by God’s grace, but we continue in it by faith, faith which also is a gift from God.

In Matthew 25:23, Jesus perhaps gives a hint of what we should seek to be attaining for, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Thinking of the old school reports probably my most frequent comment from the teachers was ‘Could do better’ well spiritually, within the context of this devotion I know I could do better in regard to attaining the final end of life report and by God’s grace I aim to attain a better standard, to be approved rather than ashamed at his appearing. May God help each one of us as we run the race to finish the course and to receive a good commendation at the end.

Over the next week we will look at some of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11.

Turn, turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in his wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glory and grace

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