Posted on 11/03/2023 5:33:58 AM PDT by metmom
"Faith is . . . the conviction of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). True faith goes beyond assurance to action.
When the writer said, "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen", he used two parallel and almost identical phrases to define faith.
We've seen that faith is the assurance that all God's promises will come to pass in His time. "The conviction of things not seen" takes the same truth a step further by implying a response to what we believe and are assured of.
James addressed the issue this way: "Someone may well say, 'You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.'. . . But are you willing to recognize . . . that faith without works is useless? . . . For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead" (James 2:18, 26). In other words, a non-responsive faith is no faith at all.
Noah had a responsive faith. He had never seen rain because rain didn't exist prior to the Flood. Perhaps he knew nothing about building a ship. Still, he followed God's instructions and endured 120 years of hard work and ridicule because he believed God was telling the truth. His work was a testimony to that belief.
Moses considered "the reproach of Christ [Messiah] greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward" (Heb. 11:26). Messiah wouldn't come to earth for another 1,400 years, but Moses forsook the wealth and benefits of Egypt to pursue the messianic hope.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, when faced with a life- threatening choice, chose to act on their faith in God, whom they couldn't see, rather than bow to Nebuchadnezzar, whom they could see all too well (Dan. 3). Even if it meant physical death, they wouldn't compromise their beliefs.
I pray that the choices you make today will show you are a person of strong faith and convictions.
Suggestions for Prayer
Ask God to increase and strengthen your faith through the events of this day.
Look for specific opportunities to trust Him more fully. For Further Study
Read Daniel 3:1-20. How was the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego tested?
From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.
Studying God’s Word ping
Good Word this morning!!!
Two things, faith can be tough. I find it get stronger if confronted with issues out of my control. I often tell myself that in the end, God’s promises always come true.
Also, what’s the reference to Noah never seeing rain? I did read a non-Biblical article a while back that speculated that our atmosphere was saturated with moisture and provided partly towards the great flood.
John 20:29
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed:
blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Genesis 2:5-7 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
Heavenly Father, help us to develop a trust and faith in You that reflects the simplicity of childlike faith that so rejoices Your heart, and which is so evident in the lives of little children, and yet which seems to evaporate into a vapour as soon as we reach the age of maturity. May we develop a wonder and an amazement at the glorious redemption story, and a deep humility as we approach Your thrice-holy, throne of grace to ask for help in time of need.
Forgive us for losing so much of the wonder of the beautiful incarnation, and for becoming complacent about the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Renew in us a deep reverence for Your holy name, as befits our great and glorious Creator God, Who loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins, so that whosever believes on Him would not perish but have everlasting life.
Help us in the days that lie ahead to examine our hearts, and to see if we too have become lukewarm towards the things of God. Renew in us a childlike spirit of awe and wonder, so that once again we may marvel at the wonder of Who You truly are. And draw us ever closer into deeper intimacy with Yourself. This we ask in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/prayer/prayer-for-childlike-faith-1229
AMEN!
We become so jaded as we get older.
ME too
Amen Sisters!
All I need now is a leopard skin print dress!
Perhaps a Moo-moo!
So sorry Elsie. Brother. Lol lol!!
Ha ha haaaa! Maybe you could be Elsie’s Beauregard!
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