Faith is believing the unbelievable. An elderly man without natural child is given the outrageous promise of vast descendants. Audacious as the promise was, Abraham dared take God at His word.


Life’s trials are not automatically beneficial. Unless we make the mental choice to “consider” them a source of joy, they will not be. The idea of joy amidst our most difficult times may see preposterous, but then perhaps we need to be sure we properly understand the word, “joy.” Often it is equated with happiness, and this is not necessarily so. A better understanding is that of abiding optimism - that there is ultimate benefit and a good outcome in spite of the pain of the moment. Joy is grinding through the difficulty with confidence in the results.

Suffering is evidence of sonship. Apparently the Hebrew audience had lost sight of this fact and needed to be reminded. As loving parents discipline their children for their own good, so our heavenly Father does His children.

While the writer of Hebrews was concerned about the need for endurance on the part of his audience, he was confident: “But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”

“the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” 1 Peter 3:20-21.

The humanity of Jesus is appealing and comforting. He really does get us because He is one of us, as the writer earlier said: “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” Hebrews 4:15. He knows our human frailty and is well able to appropriate the needed resources to help us in our need.

It can be said that the faith that saves is the faith that works, as the book of James so well stresses. None of us are saved by works, but the works of our lives evidence the reality of our faith, and our grasp of grace. The proof of what we believe is found in the fruit of our lifestyle.

And then there is the priority of perpetuating the faith and truth. Truth that has been clearly proclaimed is to be entrusted to those who are faithful and reliable in training others with it, who will also continue the process. The transference of truth is a sacred trust.

“Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Then say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the LORD. Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the LORD, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices”  Zechariah 6:11-13

Vigilance is ever needed in that deception comes in many forms. Personal and group familiarity with truth is essential in avoiding last-day deception. There is never a good time to be lax in study and application of the word of God in that the enemy ever waits to exploit our weakness. Standing firm and always holding on are the watchwords for the people of God. Given the resources of truth and the Spirit of God, we have the essential weapons, but they must ever be appropriated into our lives, individually and as the church.