Thursday morning greetings to you, my friend! We are blessed to be counted as the children of Our Most High God!
Read Hebrews 11:13 – 40.
This passage contains the latter portion of the “Hall of Faith”. Before we practically apply today’s reading, let us review just some of the names featured in God’s Hall of Faith:
Abel
Enoch
Noah
Abraham
Issac
Jacob
Joseph
Moses
Rahab
Gideon
David
Samuel
While not comprehensive, this is certainly an amazing list of names – true Biblical heroes, every one of them! As Believers, we are familiar with their stories; their exploits; their testimonies; and, most of all, the faith in God that each one possessed.
But the Hall of Faith contains others, as well – the prophets, who, for reasons known only to the Holy Spirit, are not named in this epistle. What is detailed, however, are the miracles, the triumphs, the glory, and the obedience that all of these “unnamed” were able to achieve because they walked in complete and unshakable faith in the LORD.
Acts of steadfast faith like (vvs 33 – 37): “who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—”. A pretty amazing compilation – and it is quite likely the last few acts of faith contained in this scripture would never be included in today’s “best life” books about faith.
But the Spirit has this to say about those “unnamed” who walked in such great faith (vv 38): “the world was not worthy.”. These unnamed heroes, and their mighty acts of faithfulness to God, have been recorded for eternity in Heaven. The message to all Believers here in our passage from Hebrews is closely paralleled by the words of Our Lord Himself (Matthew 25:23): “‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”.
Brothers, now is the time for our faith to be built and established and increased, so when the time comes, we also may be counted among the unnamed, yet honored, in God’s great Hall of Faith! And because we have been faithful, we will hear those wonderful words from Our Lord: “Well done, good and faithful servant; Enter into the joy of your Lord”.
So how do we build our faith? Ephesians 3:16-19 says: “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”.
Seek God. Let Christ dwell in your heart. Be filled with the Spirit. Know – really know – the love of Christ. Ask our Good God for more faith. If you do these things, your faith will assuredly be strengthened!
LORD, I ask You to fill me with Your Spirit. Help me, O LORD, to fully comprehend the depth of the love that You have shown me through Your Son, Jesus. Strengthen me with Your might, and increase my faith, so that I can stand for You, today, and always! Amen!