Oh, the FAITH!

Recently, I was challenged to think about what hope, trust and faith mean to me through an incorrect use of the word hope by a politician (go figure) equating hope in God to their own efforts. I don’t appreciate that…it’s disrespectful at best.

This causes me to think about faith a bit…what does Faith mean? Where will it take me? Why do I believe it? I found these scriptures so encouraging! For me, Faith means a lot. It’s what is there when I can’t count on my family, my friends or other people to meet my needs when I’m struggling! I love these scriptures!

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear…

These all died in faith, not having received the promises but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded by them and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth…

But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He hath prepared for them a City. And what shall I say more? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Samson and of Jephthah, of David also and Samuel and of the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword. Out of weakness they were made strong, waxed valiant in battle, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens…

Seeing we also are compassed about by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 11 & 12, Excerpts