Hebrews 11:1-40
By Faith
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 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. 4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 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.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." 19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.
23 By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Psalms 19:1-14
The Heavens and Skies Speak of God's Knowledge
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
The Hebrew's author tells us that faith is being sure of what we hope for and it is being certain of something we do not see...This is what the ancient believers in God were commended for...Like love and hope, the nature of faith is something we also cannot see...Faith is not tangible...However, those who believe in God often see Him...They see Him in nature and other things around them...For those of mature faith, I think, they see God in many things...And these things they see helps their faith, and brings them closer to God...And as we read the Hebrew author's definition and things of faith and by faith, he wants us to anchor our hopes and our faith in many of the ancient ones who had strong faiths...We can draw both strength and hope from others who have a strong faith...
Although faith is cannot be seen, we can see the faith in those who were written about in Hebrews...We can see faith in others, as we visit and talk to them about their faith...We can see faith in things we read about in articles and books of faith...And along a different line, very often we can see faith in God's creation and Mother Nature...
God in the past has touched people as He did Noah and Abraham (as well as others above)...Noah did not see the rains coming (or know how much rain they would receive), but he was warned by God about things he had not yet seen, and in holy fear built an ark to save his family...By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith...Our three Patriarchs followed God and things that were unseen...Abraham was told by God to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance...Abraham obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going or what to expect...By his faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country...For Abraham was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God...He was a man of faith, who believed in a Promised Land that he would not at first have seen...And by his faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because He considered him faithful who had made the promise...And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore...Abraham had a son Isaac, and they lived in tents...As did his grandson Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise about a land of milk and honey...And Jacob's twelve sons, basically would receive this Promised Land, with a nation called Israel...And they would have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore living in there God Promised Land...But Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not get to see how their covenant with God played and finished out...They did not get to see the end earthly result of the Promised Land...But they had the faith in their LORD that the covenant and promise would get finished...
Faith because it cannot be seen and touched, does not always seem rational...It seems to swing (for me) sometimes like my moods...Some days are stronger days of faith than others...I am not sure one can rationalize faith or can use their intellect to get faith...I also am not sure if one can use their feelings about faith and God's Presence as a way to describe the nature and things of faith to others and even themselves...But we are given two eyes, two ears, our other senses, and our heart to seek faith...Faith, as stated earlier, can be seen in many things and this is not hard for those who believe in God...The believer may find faith in God in their very existence...They may see God in the birth of a puppy or kitten or many other types of births...Seeing things of creation and new births can help them see God better -for some people of faith...They may see faith in the grass, the trees, and the blue sky with the sun shining above, and see God...Some see God in love and in human kindness, and believe He also created these things...Others see Him in how morality permeates the world...Others see God in their lives as they walk down this path of life...They see their life as a story, and their story is played out through their years, as they age...And God is the author of their story...Some understand that God made man and woman to be social beings...And we are to live in harmony, not only with their family and friends -but the entire world...To live in harmony they also see we need His help....And these things too are a sign of God...
God still touches us...And I think we touch Him with our faith (that we cannot see)...But it seems we never see God in His Entirety...He is much to complex and complicated for us for that to happen...We are limited, and we see only glimpses of Him...We see only slices of Him...But as we examine those things around us, we can see Him -in these glimpses and slices...Day after day the things in nature speak of His work...Every night when the stars come out, they show us His knowledge...As we look up to the sky and see the heavens, they speak of His Presence...