Scripture Reading(s)
Hebrews 11:29-12:2
11:29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned.
11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.
11:31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.
11:32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets–
11:33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,
11:34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
11:35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection.
11:36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
11:37 They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented–
11:38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
11:39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised,
11:40 since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.
12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
12:2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
Reflections
Our walk of Faith while here one earth can only be characterized by one thing: God being the true source of our faith and furthermore who giving us the will, strength and perseverance to make it through. Our faith can only be based on God alone. It is He who accomplishes great works in us, not ourselves.
It was God-based faith who lead the Israelites across the read sea, brought the wall of Jericho down, and who used Rahab to protect Israel’s spies from getting caught. God empowered all these things to place through the work of faith. In other words, God wants for His people to trust Him to work on our behalf and take care of the impossible.
Real genuine faith means the total and complete surrender to God and saying that you trust Him to accomplish the end goal. Whether its facing a career dependent exam, an illness, awaiting a job interview, faith is what drives us to keep going and not loose heart that God is in control.
Let us always remember who we are basing our faith on: Jesus Christ. Let us empty ourselves of any sin that is holding us back from fully clinging to and surrendering our lives to Him.
It’s easy to take for granted that we are living in the era of grace. Hebrews 11 lists all the heroes of the faith and then ends with a simple note:
“Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised”
What was the promise that these great heroes were unable to obtain? The promise was the era of the second covenant and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Kingdom of God has come to the earth and it is in our midst. This is the promise that our patriarchs and heroes were not able to be a part of.
Moreover, the writer of Hebrews compels us to throw off any hinderance, obstacle, or weight, so that we can run the race with a full force. Run the race with heart and perseverance so that we may be worthy of the gift that has been freely given to us. Do no snub God’s grace by doing nothing for the kingdom.
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