Topic: Faith
Today I was reading Hebrews chapter 11 and the big theme here was over faith.
It talked about the hero’s and leaders in the Bible who accomplished the most outrageous things you can think of or persevered through the most unimaginable circumstances and they all have one thing in common: faith.
Faith is a pretty big deal to God; without it you can’t please Him (Hebrews 11:6). It’s like a currency and those who have it can consider themselves RICH. So if faith is so important to God and is what allowed all the famous Bible heros and leaders to persevere in the face of the impossible, then it’s safe to say we should know what it is and how to obtain it right?
Well… Hebrews 11:1 states that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. I interpret this as having a belief of what you can’t see with your physical eyes. Now, evidence means “an outward sign” according to the dictionary. This lead me to James 2:17 “faith without works is dead”. So, the second part of faith, which states “the evidence of things not seen” refers to PHYSICAL actions that are done in accordance with faith.
Here’s an example: If someone claims to have faith that God will prosper a business plan, then you would see their faith through them putting in physical actions to build the business. They wouldn’t waste time building a business if they didn’t believe God would guide them towards success in it.
However, if someone else claims to have faith that God will prosper a business plan but never begins working on the business due to doubt or fear of failure (which can sometimes look like “waiting for the right time”), then there is no evidence of their belief proving their faith is no longer alive.
So faith is a combination of hope/ belief followed with the evidence of said hope/ belief through physical actions (works).
Now, how do we obtain such faith? It’s not easy to force yourself to believe things you can’t physically see. But the good news is that it doesn’t require any doing of our own. Faith is something only God can provide. Romans 10:17 states that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. So that’s it. That’s the formula. The word of God takes root in our hearts just by hearing it and the more we hear it through reading, speaking, or listening to the scriptures, the more our faith grows.
#biblestudy #bibleverse #jesuslovesyou #jesusfollower #faith
Faith, as outlined in Hebrews chapter 11, is a profound biblical concept that encompasses both belief and action. The heroes mentioned in this chapter — people like Enoch, Abraham, Sarah, and others — demonstrate that faith is the driving force behind overcoming extraordinary challenges and accomplishing remarkable feats. One key part of Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." This means faith is not just a passive hope; it has tangible expressions. The term "evidence" refers to an outward sign visible to others, which aligns with James 2:17's assertion that "faith without works is dead." In practice, this means faith is proven alive through actions that align with one's belief. For example, if a person sincerely believes that God will prosper their business plan, their faith will motivate them to actively work toward building that business, demonstrating trust in God's guidance through persistent effort. The OCR content from the article's images furthers this understanding by recalling biblical narratives where faith facilitated divine promises and enabled God’s followers to triumph in difficult situations. This ties into the idea that faith is not self-generated but a gift from God. Romans 10:17 emphasizes that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God," implying that engaging regularly with scripture through reading, listening, and meditation nurtures and strengthens faith within the believer’s heart. Such a dynamic faith journey involves continually exposing oneself to God’s word and responding through consistent, faith-driven actions. It’s a reminder that faith is both deeply spiritual and practically expressed, empowering believers to live confidently despite uncertainties. Whether facing personal trials or pursuing God-ordained goals, faith acts as both the foundation and fuel for perseverance and success. In Christian life, understanding faith as a partnership between divine provision and human response deepens one’s relationship with God and energizes everyday living. Encouraging ourselves and others to embrace this active, evidence-based faith can transform challenges into testimonies of God’s faithfulness and power.
