Author Archive for: meiling

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Hebrews 11:8-19.  Let’s go!

On verses 8-19:  To illustrate what faith looks like in real life, the writer of Hebrews focuses in on the life of Abraham and his wife Sarah.  Their incredible story is told in Genesis 12-25.  Here’s what I learned verse by verse about what faith looks like from the life of Abraham and Sarah as described by the writer of Hebrews.

Hebrews 11:8 (NIV) 
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. 

On verse 8:  Faith is going where God tells you to go, even when you don’t see the whole picture.  So if you’re waiting to see the full picture before you go, guess what?  You’re not living by faith.

Hebrews 11:9 (NIV) 
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. 
On verse 9:  Faith is leaving your comfort zone and letting go of what’s familiar and comfortable.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Hebrews 11:1-7.  Let’s go!

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) 
1  Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 

On verses 1, 6:  In the previous verse (Hebrews 10:39), the writer of Hebrews channeled his inner football coach and encouraged his readers to keep on fighting the fight of faith.  He told them “we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved” (Hebrews 10:39).  Now the writer of Hebrews goes on to explain what faith is.  His definition, as translated by the NIV: “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (v1).  I believe this verse shows us there are two parts to faith.

First, faith is being “certain of what we do not see”.  In other words, faith is using your imperfect sight to draw a conclusion based on the evidence available to you.  Say you’re sitting on a jury trying to decide whether or not to convict someone of a crime.  There will be an element of faith involved in your decision. 

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Hebrews 10:32-39.  Let’s go!

Hebrews 10:35-36 (NIV) 
35  So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

On verses 32-39:  Once again the theme of perseverance comes up here in these verses.  To encourage the Christians he is writing to, the writer of Hebrews recalls the early days of their faith when they suffered much persecution, even having their property confiscated and going to prison for their faith.  Apparently they did so joyfully because they knew that they “had better and lasting possessions” (v34).  (It reminds me of that famous quote from missionary Jim Elliott who wrote, “He is no fool who loses what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”)  In a time when his readers were likely tempted to leave their faith or disconnect themselves from church, the writer of Hebrews encourages his readers not to throw away their confidence and urges them to persevere “so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what has been promised.”  (v36)