Faith Is the Assurance of Things Hoped For

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Faith  Is the Assurance  of Things  Hoped For

Sometimes Christians might wonder  about their faith.     Is it  what it should be?     Is it really based  on truth?     If I have faith,  why isn’t my prayer answered?     Is my faith glorifying God  as it should?     Hebrews 11:1  tells us,

Now faith  is the assurance  of things  hoped for,  the conviction  of things  not seen.     For by it  the men  of old  gained approval.

“Faith  is the assurance  of things  hoped for.”     Are we honestly hoping  for the right things?     Surely, we’re not simply hoping  for riches,  popularity,  power,  or any such thing.

The word  “assurance”  in Greek  refers  to things like:  the foundation  —  the underlying structure  —  that which is firm  —  the steadfastness  of mind  —  confidence.     None  of those meanings  are about  earthly things.     That same Greek word  is used in Hebrews 3:14  to say,

For we have become partakers  of Christ,  if we hold fast  the beginning  of our assurance firm  until the end.

So,  what was  “the beginning  of our assurance”?     That’s what we need  to hope for  and hold firm  until the end.    “The beginning  of our assurance”  is faith  in the forgiveness  of our sins  through faith  in Christ Jesus  —  the rest  our souls receive  in forgiveness  —  and the promise  of eternal life  with our LORD  and Savior.     These are  all the things  God’s children  down through the ages  have put their faith in.

Hebrews,  chapter 11  goes on  to name many  of God’s children,  who lived  by faith.     Just some  in that list include:  Abel,  Enoch,  Noah,  Abraham,  Sarah,  Issac,  Jacob,  Moses,  Rahab,  Gideon,  Barak,  Samson,  Jephthah,  David,  and Samuel.     They all  put their hope  in God  and His promises.     Many  of God’s children  have experienced terrible tortures  and death  for their faith.     But,  they gained God’s approval  because they refused  to give up their faith  in God’s truths.     They had  the  “faith”  that  “is the assurance  of things  hoped for,  the conviction  of things  not seen”.

We need  to look  at our own faith.     Do we have  the faith  of Noah  —  Abraham  —  Moses  —  David  — or any  of the others,  who have lived  by faith?     Why  —  or why not?     Do we even know enough  of God’s word  to have faith  in it?     Do we ever think  about all the things  God has done  —  or what He has promised  to do  until Judgment Day?

“The beginning  of our assurance”  was our faith  in the forgiveness  of all our sins.     Do we still realize  the faithfulness  of that promise?     Or  are our challenges  in life  clouding up  that truth?     Do we remember  that Christ  has assured us  that He will be  with us  to the end?     Are we honestly trusting  His leading  through thick  and thin?     We could review  many earthly challenges,  from the creation story  to the definition  of sin,  to the end of the world .     The world denies all  of God’s word  on these subjects.     Where does  our faith stand?

Seeing  the absolute power  of God’s word  down through the ages,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     LORD,  it is joyfully marvelous  that You have proven  that You keep  Your word  to the smallest detail.     Be with us  to the very end.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional  to glorify  the LORD of lords  and GOD of gods.

A 2.67 year old says  I Pledge Allegiance

Pray for our country.

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… Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus …

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Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus by the Yupiq Eskimo village of Quinhagak, Alaska

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The LORD  made this day, let us rejoice  and be glad  in Him.

Psalm 118:24

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The word of the LORD is tried;

He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.

Psalm 18:30

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Sing for joy  in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming  to the upright.

Psalm 33:1

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How blessed are those  who dwell  in Thy house!

They are ever praising Thee.

Psalm 84:4

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Just as a father  has compassion  on his children,

So the LORD  has compassion  on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:13

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O give thanks  to the LORD,  for He is good;

For His lovingkindness  is everlasting.

Psalm 107:1

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Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart  of those who seek the LORD  be glad.

Psalm 105:3

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Not that I have already obtained it,  or have already  become perfect, but I press on  in order that  I may  lay hold  of that for which also  I was laid hold of  by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12

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