SEARCHLIGHT
Do you have a strong, growing faith?
SCRIPTURE
What is faith? It is confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. Men of God in days of old were famous for their faith. By faith-by believing God-we know that the world and the stars, in fact, all things, were made at God’s command; and that they were all made from things that can’t be seen. Hebrews 11: 1-3 Living Bible
SPOTLIGHT
Having faith is all important to living. Faith helps you to understand life, and offers peace and hope, while facing life’s storms. In addition, it provides you with the strength to overcome life’s problems. Faith is key to guiding you in making decisions and developing relationships. In essence, your need for faith is as important as your need for water.
Everyone has some form of faith and regularly exercises it. But the question can be asked, “What is faith?” To answer that question, we could look to AI, polling data, or authors who have written on the subject. However, the most reliable source is the Bible because that is where we discover that God is all wise and all knowing.
Today we choose Hebrews 11:1-3 as our Scripture focus to clearly understand the answer to “WHAT IS FAITH?” The Message translation puts it this way: “The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.” Allow me to clarify……
Faith is more than believing in God. Faith is believing God. Believing that God exists is not enough. You can accept the existence of God without allowing that to change your life. Satan and his demons believe in God.
Faith is not blindly stepping out in the dark and wishing for the best. Imagine a dark cavern. You have to find your way out. Any step could lead to your death because you are walking on a ledge. Someone says, “Just take a step of faith.” You respond, “Which way?” Faith is not blindly stepping out in the dark.
Faith is believing God. This means you believe who He is and what He says. His character is rock solid which means so are His commitments. Today’s Scripture focus underscores the accuracy and truthfulness of God. He is trustworthy! The author of Hebrews wanted everyone to know that faith begins by personally knowing God.
Have you come to a place where your faith believes that God is right? This is what it means for you to believe God and not just believe in God. God is always faithful to keep His promises. Hebrews 11 is filled with Old Testament characters who had a strong faith in God. They trusted God with their lives. When you have faith in God, you patiently wait for Him to act on your behalf. You are fully confident that He will.
Today’s Scripture focus provides a further understanding that you need. Faith is looking beyond your present experience with such confidence that you know you will not be disappointed. Life can be filled with ups and downs, problems, sadness and failure. Faith in God causes you to look beyond your circumstances and how you feel to a bright hope for tomorrow.
Have you come to a place where your faith looks beyond personal experience and feelings? Do you have a confident assurance not only in who God is and what God is doing, but what God promises to do as found in God’s Word? Faith looks ahead just like Noah did. [Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6:17,18] Present reality and past experiences do not dictate your future. As a believer, you can confidently look forward to heaven and the return of Jesus Christ. [John 14:1,2]
Faith will never depend upon your sight. In today’s Scripture, it speaks to the issue of “seeing is believing.” We live in a “show me” world; people want to see proof. They desire to touch, taste, hear, smell or see. Seeing is not believing and believing is not seeing. Why? Because seeing is the opposite of faith. God is unseen, yet He exists and can be known.
Have you come to a place where your faith knows that unseen things are real because God says so? Abraham believed that unseen things are real because God said so. [Hebrews 11:17; Romans 4:20,21] Your faith needs to be so strong that you believe that God will never, ever deceive you.
SOMETHING TO DO
Read the Scripture verses previously mentioned. They will increase your faith.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Lord God, I place my faith in You! Without doubt, I know You are trustworthy because You put Your Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross and then raised Him from the dead. I choose to look beyond my past experiences and present circumstances. My eyes of faith are on You, Lord, and not what I see. AMEN!