Theme: Hope Builds
Character – Series 10
Hebrews
11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not
seen.”
You
know, it takes a lots of faith to believe in something we don’t see, but what
comes after faith? Hope! It would be good to know exactly the meaning of the
word, hope. Hope means to desire
something and expect that it will happen. And hope also means trust that it would
accomplished something we don’t see yet.
If
someone ask you a question, why do you have faith in Jesus when you don’t see
Him? What do you hope for in Christ?
These are tough questions, but Peter, the Apostle of Jesus Christ, tells
us to “. . . be ready always to give an answer to man that ask you a reason of
the hope that is in you . . .” (1 Peter 3:15). This is our chance to give testimony of our
faith in Jesus Christ whom we have not seen, yet we believe in His Word of
promises.
What
makes us put our faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ? His resurrection! He arose from the grave! We have our blessed
hope that He is coming back soon to take us home to be with Him forever. We have few examples from Hebrews 11 who gave
their testimony of what they hope for.
Abel:
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain obtained
witness that he was righteous” (Heb. 11:4).
Enoch:
“By faith Enoch was taken up to heaven because he had this testimony that he
pleased God” (Heb.11:5).
Noah:
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear,
prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the
world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” (Heb.11:7).
Abraham:
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should
receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out, not knowing where he went”
(Heb.11:8). By faith Abraham traveled in
the land of promise, as in a strange country . . .
What
did Abraham hope for? He looked for a city which have foundations, whose
builder and maker is God (Heb. 10:10).
This reminds me of my mother’s testimony that she quoted her faith and
her hope in that scripture and said, “I am looking forward to that city whose
builder and maker is God.” It stays with
me for many years since I was a teenager when my mom testified of her faith and
hope in God.
What
is your testimony that others would hear from you and be inspired by you? Prayer:
Lord Jesus, give us grace and wisdom to know how to give an answer to anyone
that ask us a reason of the hope that is in us.
Thank you for showing us that our hope does builds our character when we
give our testimony through words and through our actions of love. Thank You for
the blessings! In Jesus’ name we pray, amen!
God
bless you!
Dorothy
Song: The Solid Rock
My
hope is built on nothing less
Than
Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I
dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But
wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On
Christ the solid Rock, I stand
All
other ground is sinking sand,
All
other ground is sinking sand.
(Text: Edward More, The
Celebration Hymnal)
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