Today's Readings: New Testament -
Matthew 19:16-30
Hebrews 11:32-40
Old Testament -
Proverbs 28:15-28
Isaiah 54-55
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Focus Verses: Hebrews 11:39-40
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Insight:
Faith in God's promise to provide and deliver is what motivated and sustained all the great men and women of faith in the history of Israel. They viewed all of their hardships, decisions, failures, victories, goals, experiences, miracles, losses, and gains through the lens of faith in God. The Hebrew writer presented Jesus as the fulfillment of all these ancients were hoping for—the deliverer, the hope of salvation, the one who would eventually bring justice and redemption.
The first century readers of the Hebrew letter had the testimony of those who had been with Jesus, seen his glory, heard his words, experienced his power, and witnessed his resurrection. They had personal contact with those who had seen and experienced first-hand what the Old Testament people had only hoped and longed for in faith.
Today, thousands of years after Christ's resurrection and ascension to the Father's right hand, we Christians continue to live our lives by faith. We are receiving and experiencing God's forgiveness, grace, and transformative power, and we are looking forward to much more. We believe that Christ will return. We believe that God will reconcile all things to himself. We believe that justice and healing will come to all the earth. We believe that Jesus will raise us from the dead and renew all things. We believe in the New Jerusalem. We believe that God will one day wipe away all tears from our eyes. We believe that we will live eternally in God’s very presence.
Response & Action:
I will cling to the promises of God. I will live my life by faith. I will view every aspect of my life through the lens of faith. By faith, I will live with certainty and confidence. I want the promises of God and the hope I have in Christ to be the basis of my every choice, action, and perspective.
O God, increase my faith. Give me the courage to live by your promises. Deliver me from fears and darkness. Protect me from discouragement, and encourage me by your Holy Spirit, through your word, your people, your promises, and all that is beautiful and true. Help me to fix my eyes on Jesus and the hope he offers all who trust in him. Grant me the eyes to see your truth and to recognize your power and involvement in the world and in my life. Give me the confidence and boldness to live this day by faith. Through Christ, I pray. Amen.
Spiritual Formation Verses: Hebrews 11:6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Resources:
Faith on the Edge: Daring to Follow Jesus
Edited by Paul Tokunaga, Kevin Blue, Amy Brooke, Robbie Castleman, & Robbie Castleman
