heroes of faith – Be Still…

Hebrews 11:32-40 – Bold Faith

Read Hebrews 11:32-40

What a great trip down memory lane this has been! The common denominator for all the hero stories we’ve been reminded of is faith. Bold faith. These people were not always popular, but putting their trust in God was what they valued more than anything. “By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them.” Don’t ever forget to look back and take note of others who have gone before you! There is a lot of encouragement and wisdom there!

Now for a startling reality! Without God, we are weak. Thankfully, in our weakness, God steps in and gives us strength. Do you have faith enough to believe that? Think about the examples the Preacher has given us. “Their weakness was turned to strength.” How did that happen? Bold faith in a God that loves to provide for his faithful children!

Hebrews 11:1-16 – Got Faith?

Read Hebrews 11:1-16

What a beautiful Chapter this will be to reflect on faith. We can’t help but be refreshed and renewed when we receive clarity like this! Before we can know if we’ve “got faith,” we need to understand what faith is. The Preacher does a great job here of clarifying that for us. How can you not have faith when you truly believe this statement. “By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.”

The Preacher also uses Old Testament heroes of faith to illustrate how faith works. We can take clues from their faithfulness and apply them to our lives. Which of these spoke to you the most? (1) giving back to God; (2) pleasing God; (3) seeking God; (4) listen to God even when it’s unpopular; (5) obeying God even when you don’t understand; and (6) confidently trusting God to keep his promises.

2 Samuel 3:31-39 – Who is the Hero?

Read 2 Samuel 3:31-39

Faith Hall of Fame - listing Enoch, Noah, Moses, Sampson, David, YOU

Abner is getting a lot of attention from King David. But is he the hero of this story? It certainly can’t be Joab, the one who killed Abner. In fact, Joab is having to mourn the loss of a man he caused to die. How odd that must be! David is setting a good example as king.

David needed a strong public response to the killing of this Israelite warrior. He did this to establish his innocence and pay tribute. David couldn’t afford to lose credibility with other leaders of the north. He summons the whole “government” to mourn, including Joab. What humiliation!