Summer Fruit Devotion: Faithfulness Day 2

Legacy Faith

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” Hebrews 11:1-16

I love this passage, commonly called the “Hall of Faith.” It is such an eye opening summary of so much of the Old Testament. God made them promises, they believed God’s promises and that pleased God. Faithfulness is the action that lives out the faith we have in God’s promises. These summaries leave out loads of details but the main matter is that the saints of old put their faith in a God who was always faithful to them. Noah’s ark was an act of faith and they were saved, Abraham’s journey was one of faith and when he and Sarah finally had a son, the Nation of Israel was born of that faith. Salvation was obtained by faith in the coming Messiah the same way we obtain salvation, by faith in Jesus, who has already come and will come again. Remind yourself often of the faithful saints in Scripture who teach us how to trust God and wait for his promises.

Journal time. Read the rest of the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11:17-40 and meditate on all that God had done through his people. Write a brief version of your own faith story. By faith (your name) trusted God with (your situation) and God was faithful to (God’s answer.)

Pray with me today. Heavenly Father, we are in awe of your faithfulness to your people. We are so grateful that you include us now in the long history of faith. Remind us of how faithful you have been in our personal stories and lead us to greater faithfulness to Christ in our lives so we can continue your legacy of mercy, grace and love. In the name of your faithful son, Jesus, we pray, Amen.