Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Leviticus 14; Hebrews 11
Devotional Thought:
Hebrews 11 is known as the great chapter of faith. Faith is being as sure that something is true as if it were sitting in front of you. Faith allows a truth to be acted upon as if it was already able to be experienced. Salvation is an act of faith that believes we are justified as if we were being ushered into heaven right that moment. Faith trusts that what God has said to be true, is true. We believe by faith that God spoke the worlds into existence. Abel believed that God demanded a blood sacrifice; Cain thought he could come up with his own way to worship. Enoch believed God’s commands to be true and right and obeyed them. For man to do what is right in his own eyes can never please God. Noah believed God when He said there was coming judgment that needed preparation now. So he started immediately preparing for the Day of Judgment. Abraham believed God would do what He said, so he obeyed not knowing how things would specifically work out. Over and over again in this chapter people who believed God acted in unreserved obedience to His commands. God always knows best and He declares His will through the Bible and illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. Faith in God’s program does not guarantee that the road will be easy, pleasant, or smooth. However, it does guarantee that it is best. God often put His faithful servants through many trials, but He always goes through the trial with us. Whether it was a lion’s den, the violence of fires, the threat of the sword, loss of loved ones, torture, mocking’s and scourging, imprisonment, or martyrdom, these faithful servants trusted that God was right in everything He was allowing and doing. To die in this life was not a concern because they had their eyes on eternal things. The life to come was much more important than the temporary life they had been given here on this earth. What a challenge to all of us regarding our faith. Do we really believe God? Do we trust Him when things are very difficult to understand? Will we continue in faith even if it means torture, separation, or death? Are we too addicted to this life? God says of those who lived Hebrews 11 kind of faith in God, that the world was not worthy of them. What a testimony!
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to model a life of faith. Please help me to never doubt in the night what I know to be true in the Light. Your way is best!
• Lord, thank you for giving these examples in the Bible. I so desire to be a man of faith as these were. I know you have a marvelous plan that you are working for our good and your glory. Please help me to trust you every day.
• Lord, you have always been with me through every trial. Thank you for caring about my life and every detail of it. Thank you for love, wisdom, comfort, strength, and leadership. You never leave me to act on my own.