The Verse of the Day

-July 26, 2020-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

-The Object Of Our Faith Is Jesus Christ-

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

(Hebrews 11:1).

Today’s verse has been widely considered the definition of faith. We all know what faith is, but find it much harder to put into action. The reason is that we are creatures of sight; we want to see it first then we will believe, but that is not biblical faith. Faith believes first, then sees not the other way around.

Our text says, “Now faith is the substance (or confidence) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The word hope in the NT means a confident expectation. It is based on the facts and truths of the Word of God, not on our feelings, desires, or dreams. It is not “pie in the sky,” but pie on the plate.

The Lord Jesus told Mary in John 11:40, “Did I not say to you that if you believe you would see the glory of God?” Jesus put Mary’s faith to the test, just as He tests our faith. After the resurrection, Thomas said he would not believe unless he could touch the nail prints in Jesus’ hands and side. Our Savior rebuked Thomas’ doubting when He said, “…Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:27; John 20:29).

We all have a little Thomas in us from time to time we doubt. If we are honest we are sometimes like the father of the demon possessed boy who said to the Lord, “I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). We must not put faith in faith, but in our Lord. He is what we hope for, He is the evidence of things not seen. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith not by sight.”

Hebrews 11 is the “Hall of Faith” chapter. Each person in it showed faith under difficult circumstances, and their faith is an example to us. May the Lord help us to believe then we will see; to walk by faith even when it is dark, uncertain, and fearful.

Have a blessed day walking by faith, trusting the Lord. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean