Pleasing God

Toward a New Creation
Judgment and Salvation

Assurances and Joy for the Faithful

Hebrews 11:1-6  The Message

Faith in What We Don’t See

11 ^1-2 The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

³ By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.
⁴ By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. It was what he believed, not what he brought, that made the difference. That’s what God noticed and approved as righteous. After all these centuries, that belief continues to catch our notice.
^5-6 By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.” It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him

For Reflection

Faith is not just believing.  Faith is acting upon your belief that God is in charge of your life and God will use you for the good of God's people and to realize the Kingdom in this world.  Faith is acting as though goodness, kindness and compassion is the only accepted mode of interaction among humans.  Faith is acting upon the expectation that God will fulfill God's promise.  Faith is what drives righteousness.  Faith thrives upon love.

Pray

Pray for the faith in God that the common human would describe as unreasonable.  Pray to resolve doubt in troubling times.  Pray so that your faith will be strengthened.