Hall of Faith

Before Wayne and I go on vacation, we spend a lot of time pouring over hundreds of professional and peer reviews about the locations we hope to visit.

Since we can’t “try before we buy“… reading these reviews gives us comfort to know what worked and what didn’t.  Best restaurants.  Best hotels.  Where to look for deals.  Best time of year to visit.  Things like that.

It builds our faith in the proposed destination, causing us to take action… and book the trip!

Sometimes we need to read the reviews of others who have successfully followed in faith to spur us on in our Christian walk, too.

Hebrews 11 gives us the confidence we need to step out and take action because it’s filled with examples of people who had faith strong enough to do just that.  We’re strengthened by their example because they believed with a faith that causes Christ-followers to hold on and not lose hope in the face of difficult situations.  I want that.

This stretch of scripture is referred to as… The Hall of Faith.

• By faith, Enoch was taken from this life and didn’t experience death.
• By faith, Noah built an ark to save his family when God warned him of things unseen.
• By faith, Abraham followed God’s calling to receive his inheritance although he didn’t know where he was going.
• By faith, Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born because they knew he was not ordinary.
• By faith, the walls of Jericho fell after the people marched around them for seven days.

And the list goes on.  When I read it, I have to stand up and pace across the floor because it just gets me going.  I feel so confident that if God could help that motley crew… He can help me, too.

All I have to do is have faith.

By definition, faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  It’s not a longing or a hope that something good might happen.  Rather, a firm certainty in the future.  Hey, if those listed above can have faith… so can I.

So can you.

Open your Bible and read Hebrews 11.  Don’t worry.  I’ll wait………………….

Pretty cool, eh?  Did you happen to notice that because they had faith, they took action?

• By faith, Rahab welcomed the spies and her life was spared.
• By faith, the people passed through the Red Sea on dry land (still mind-blowing to me).
• By faith, when Moses grew up he chose to be mistreated along with the people of God.

I want to be known for my faith.  Do you?

I want for others to be encouraged because I went before them and gave an example of what following God looks like.  You too?

I want to be a woman of faith in action rather than just words and advice.

What about you?

Look, we have a great opportunity to play an important role in the Kingdom.  Let’s be faithful in our walk so those who come after us will be encouraged to do the same and because of it… take the actions God is calling them to take.

Of course, we won’t get it right every time.  Without a doubt, we won’t come out the other side unscathed.

So what.  By faith, I will follow.  Will you?

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