Hebrews 11 (Amplified Bible)
1...NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, [a]the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
Hebrews 11 (The Message)
2…The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
For as long as I've been in church (and it's been almost my entire life) I've heard about faith. It's believing in something you can't see with your physical eyes. If you believe that Jesus died on a cross for your sins, you have faith. You didn't see it yourself, you weren't there but you're confident it happened.
This aspect of faith I got down. Faith lets us own what we believe. If we 'own' what we have faith for then we will live based according to this.
Look at verse 2. Faith goes from just being a noun (the name of a thing) to being a verb (an action).
The act of faith. What is the act of faith? The act of faith is when we act according to our faith! There are thousands of people around us who say they believe in Jesus who do not live accordinly! What does 'living for God' mean? I'm sure you've heard the expression at some point. When we love God, we believe in the Bible and we belive that what is in His Word is the truth. So if the Bible says 'do not steal' we don't steal! If it says to obey our parents, then we obey! If it says love and forgive, we love and forgive! If it says 'do not lean or walk in your own understanding (or wisdom) and lean on God in all you do' then guess what we do?!
Faith is not just a belief, it's living based on this belief.
Look at John 2...
14What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]?
The bottom line is that if we have faith, we will live by it. We will act like it. How do you know how to act and what to do? The answer is the Bible. Don't just read it and believe it.... if you truly believe it you will act like it's true in all aspects of you life!
We have may great examples to go by. I challenge you this week to pick up your bible and read the entire chapter of Hebrew 11. If you're unfamiliar with some of the stories it is referring to, look it up!
Be blessed and stay strong!!!
Arlene
