Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. – Hebrews 11:1
Do you have an innie or outie? No, not your belly button… your faith! Fashionable home decor right now includes ornate signs that say “Have Faith” hanging on the walls. Of course, there is nothing wrong with the signs, but they do raise an important question… faith in what?
Some faith is an “innie,” directed inward, focused on the wonderful skills and abilities you have been blessed with to manage life. But self-sufficiency is a sin, and a deceptive tool of the enemy to keep your eyes upon yourself and off of God, His plans, and provisions.
Consider Peter’s statement on the night of Christ’s arrest and subsequent crucifixion: “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away” (Matthew 26:33). You may cringe as you think of the rest of the story. In just a few hours, he would use profanity to deny ever knowing Jesus.
Outward faith is different. It is a strength and stability based on your trust that God is true to His loving and holy character. This is most evident when nothing appears to be in order and chaos reigns. It is revealed when you observe the jumbled mess of life and join the prophets, like Habakkuk, in response, “though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines… I will take joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).
Godly faith is resting radically upon God Himself, holding hope for the future only in the all-sufficient Savior, Jesus Christ. Pray for real faith to abound today in the offices of U.S. governing officials and in the lives of those making decisions for America’s future.
Today’s Verse: Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Galatians 2:16-20
16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
