Verse of the Day 1/20

Verse of the Day 1/20

Hebrews 11:6   Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Today's verse comes from Hebrews 11 where we have what some call the "Hall of Faith", a summary of those who put their faith and trust in God in ages past.  The passage begins in verse 1 by saying that faith is the "assurance" or "reality" (HCSB) of things hoped for.  We can see in this passage that hope and faith are inseparably linked.  If we want to be right, be in right standing before God we must draw near to Him, believe and acknowledge that He exists and will care for those who put their faith and trust in Him.

David Jeremiah writes, "Faith isn't just knowing something but doing something about it. The Lord speaks to us every day as we study His Word. Whenever God speaks to us, we must respond. If He tells us to stop worrying, that's what we do. If He tells us to tame our tempers, that's what we do. If He tells us to go to the ends of the earth with His message, we pack our bags. Christ is worthy of our faith, and faith always leads to obedience."  Faith is not just head knowledge it is putting faith and trust in God and leaning on Him, depending on Him and acting upon it.  True faith involves action.

As I read this verse and considered these thoughts, the Jordan Feliz song "You Gotta Have Faith" came to mind, especially the line "He's hope for tomorrow".

He's light for the shadows
He's hope for tomorrow
He'll always be there through the sun and the rain
You've got to believe it
Before you can see it
And you can walk on, 'cause He's making a way
Just gotta have some faith, faith
You gotta have some faith, faith
Oh, you gotta have some faith
Faith, faith
You gotta have some faith, faith
Faith

Is God speaking to you today?  If so, as David Jeremiah stated, "we must respond" in faith.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Hebrews 11:1-6 English Standard Version (ESV)

By Faith

11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ² For by it the people of old received their commendation. ³ 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.

⁴ 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. ⁵ 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. ⁶ 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.