Author: David Short

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Personal Challenge

Life is hard. There are challenges every step along the way, especially if you are trying to living a godly, Christ-like life. Jesus told us to be prepared for this. He told us that if the world hated Him it would also hate His followers. But, we are not alone in this journey of life. We have a great cloud of witnesses, the saints that have gone before us that we can look to for guidance and example. We can look to Jesus who has lead the way into eternal rest and showed us how to follow that path. We have our Father who desires all of us to be reunited with Him. And we have the Holy Spirit to live within us and lead us to the eternal resting place. Glory be to God!

Hebrews 11:17-19

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

Personal Challenge

Sometimes we wait and pray for something from God. Then by His grace, we receive what we ask for. Then He asks us to give it up. This happens as a test of our faith and our love for our God. Is the answer to our prayer more important than He who provides the answer? Do we trust Him enough that we believe He will restore what He gave us? This is the challenge, to love Him more than anything that He can give us. Glory be to God!

Hebrews 11:13-16

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Encouraging Words

We have a whole host of saints and patriarchs that have gone before us who have demonstrated for us the power of faith. So many of them looked forward to the coming Messiah and never gave up on their hope. They demonstrated for us that this kind of hope can lead us to godly and fulfilled lives. We learn from these saints how much our God loves those who anxiously wait for Him and live their lives as if He will be there any moment. This is practical, working faith. Glory be to God!

Hebrews 11:8

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Personal Challenge

Faith does not really mean a whole lot until there is some action that happens because of that faith. The example here is that Abraham had enough faith in God that when he was called to go to a place that he had never seen, or even heard of, he packed up and went. God wants us to put our faith in Him, but he also wants us to follow that faith with the willingness to do what He calls us to do. That is when we see the real power of God and the depth of His love for us. Glory be to God!

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Personal Challenge

We cannot please God by just going through the motions of religiosity. We must live our lives by faith, faith in God, to make our actions mean anything. This is why God, through the prophet Isaiah indicated that the sacrifices of His people were mean­ingless when they did not follow Him in their hearts. It is so easy to get caught up in the trappings of “doing church” and not having a life changing relationship with our loving God. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Encouraging Words

What is faith? Many people make fun of those of us who put our faith in God. But every single one of them put their faith in something or someone. As humans, we were created to put our faith in some­thing other than ourselves. This verse provides a great definition of what faith is. The power in the Christian life is the Person that we have put our faith in, our God, the Father, the son, and the Holy Spirit. This is what makes this verse encouraging. Our God is who we put our hope in and who has demonstrated time and time again that He is our hope. He is our evidence of things not seen. Glory be to God!

Hebrews 10:35-36

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

Personal Challenge

We can be confident in our Lord and that He will always be there for us. Unfortunately, as the pressures of this world encroach upon our lives, that confidence can be clouded and wain. We must continue to hold onto Him and His promises so that He can build up that confidence and give us the endurance that we need to push on. Glory be to God!

Hebrews 10:23-25

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Encouraging Words

We live in a world where we often get betrayed or disappointed by those whom we thought we could trust. This is because we are all human and continue to make mistakes. We can be encouraged though that our Lord is always faithful. He will not change and He will not abandon us. By holding on to Him and this promise it becomes easier to reach out to others and put our trust into them. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!