Today’s Tasting: Hebrews 11 – 13
Chapter 11 describes what faith is according to God.
Chapter 12 describes Christ Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith and how He walked in the hope and faith of His Father all the way to victory, overcoming the world for us as believers. We should look to Him and follow His example in our faith walk.
Chapter 13 details many life actions of a Christian, who is called to live out their faith through the love and hope of God in the salvation Christ Jesus.
Todays Nourishment: I have used an Amplified translation Bible that I inherited from my Grandmother after she passed onto heaven 27 years ago. In the margins of these chapters was written: ‘Faith’ at chapter 11, ‘Hope’ at chapter 12, and ‘Love’ at Chapter 13. Thanks for the reminder Grandma. I miss you!
Chapter 11 begins with the well-know verse on what faith is. My Amplified translations reads, “Now faith is the assurance, (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality – faith perceived as real fact what is not revealed to the senses.”
Following are all the ways faith is described for us in this wonderful chapter:
Faith is described as “Now”; it is current. Besides being an assurance, confirmation, the title deed, proof, and conviction, faith perceives. Faith is a divine testimony born to you. By faith we understand; it prompts us to action. Without faith it is impossible to please God – to be satisfactory to Him.
Your faith is a reliance on God and through your faith in Him you become an heir and a possessor of righteousness, which is that relation of being right into which God puts the person of faith.
By faith we understand. By faith we are prompted to action. By faith we believe and trust God and come near to Him. By faith we are rewarded as we diligently seek Him. By faith we are urged on to our calling – we obey even though we may not see the end result manifest or we may not yet hold the reward. By faith we constantly move forward in faith.
By faith, we wait expectantly and confidently looking forward to the promise, to the end result. By faith we receive strength and power to conceive ideas because we consider God, Who has given us His Word and promises, reliable and trustworthy. He is true to His Word.
We live by our faith. We may die in our faith never receiving the tangible fulfillment, but believing God is able to fulfill and perform His Word in His time.
Because of your faith you are put to the test. Faith continues to believe while the testing of your faith is still in progress. With eyes of faith we look into the future and act in the ‘now’ accordingly, (remember “Now Faith” described above?).
Faith arouses us to action, contrary to what the world or popular belief would dictate. We consider living for God better than anything the world has to offer. Faith looks forward and away from your present circumstances. Faith puts Christ on the throne of your life and His purposes in first place. Faith motivates us to leave our current circumstances to do what God has called us to do.
Faith us un-awed, undismayed, holding staunchly to the purpose and enduring steadfastly with your eyes fixed on God. By faith we have a simple trust and confidence in God. We are urged on by faith as we walk through God-Possible situations. Because of faith, God-Possible situations come about in victory.
Faith helps and subdues; faith administers, obtains, closes, extinguished and escapes. Faith strengthens and brings might and perseverance. Sometimes faith brings suffering or death, temptation, poverty and oppression in this world. Many do not receive the fulfillment of what was promised but their faith endures and lives on into the future, into the new generations.
Don’t place your faith in your ability to believe or to press on. Place your faith squarely on God’s Word. Not only will it please Him, but also, His Word says that He is a “rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”. Continue to seek Him in trust and in faith, believing that He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly all that you could ever ask or think. Remain steadfast in His Word to know what His will and purposes are. Follow His lead and know that He will perform and provide for His will on your behalf.
God bless you all and I pray you have a safe and happy 2016 walking in the faith, hope, and love of God your Father.
Esteem Jesus in 2016.
Share your faith, hope, and love with us @ http://thebiblefeastblog.com
Tomorrow’s Tasting: James
Blessings,
June Smith
San Antonio, TX
mjunesmith@gmail.com
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