December 20
Hebrews 11:1-12:29
Hebrews 11 lists the heroes of faith─Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab… Enoch was “commended as one who pleased God.” Sarah by faith bore a child in old age because she “considered him faithful who had made the promise.” Moses was mentioned because he chose to trust God rather than enjoying “the fleeting pleasures of sin...because he was looking ahead to his reward.” Rahab chose a life of faith over prostitution by dangling a red cord in the window and believing she would be saved when God destroyed Jericho with the Israelites’ seven turns around the city. Abel in faith brought God the “better” offering and his faith “still speaks, even though he is dead.”
How does his faith speak to us even in his death? Abel is in the “great cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us (Heb. 12:1). These examples of faith and our loved ones with their examples of faith surround us, encouraging us to press on and run the race! The word race is taken from the Greek word agon, from which we get the word agony. The Christian life is not a walk, jog, or sprint, but an arduous, enduring, breath-gasping run for the prize.
Abba Father, thank you for our cloud of witnesses that are looking over the balcony and cheering us to run/endure. Thank you for the example of faith heroes who longed “for a better country—a heavenly one” (Heb. 11:16). I pray I run, endure, and persevere for the prize set before me. Help me to remember like Sarah that you keep your promises, so I can trust you too. Amen.
What is one thing we can do today to persevere in the race?
Hebrews 11 lists the heroes of faith─Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab… Enoch was “commended as one who pleased God.” Sarah by faith bore a child in old age because she “considered him faithful who had made the promise.” Moses was mentioned because he chose to trust God rather than enjoying “the fleeting pleasures of sin...because he was looking ahead to his reward.” Rahab chose a life of faith over prostitution by dangling a red cord in the window and believing she would be saved when God destroyed Jericho with the Israelites’ seven turns around the city. Abel in faith brought God the “better” offering and his faith “still speaks, even though he is dead.”
How does his faith speak to us even in his death? Abel is in the “great cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us (Heb. 12:1). These examples of faith and our loved ones with their examples of faith surround us, encouraging us to press on and run the race! The word race is taken from the Greek word agon, from which we get the word agony. The Christian life is not a walk, jog, or sprint, but an arduous, enduring, breath-gasping run for the prize.
Abba Father, thank you for our cloud of witnesses that are looking over the balcony and cheering us to run/endure. Thank you for the example of faith heroes who longed “for a better country—a heavenly one” (Heb. 11:16). I pray I run, endure, and persevere for the prize set before me. Help me to remember like Sarah that you keep your promises, so I can trust you too. Amen.
What is one thing we can do today to persevere in the race?
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