HEBREWS 11:1.

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. (NLT)

TO PONDER

My 'smarter than I' wife, a few days go saw something while we were together that was algebra, I think it was a+b=?, it did have an answer but I can’t remember what it was and then to make matters even more embarrassing she asked me, ”Isn’t that wrong, it should be…!”, again I can’t remember what her answer was because I returned to my finger painting and pointed towards the truck driving by and shouted “truck!”

Algebra doesn’t make sense, there should be no letters in math, only numbers, 2a+2b equals a Swedish band not a mathematic formula!!!

Today’s verse is the opening line of what is known as the “Hall of Faith” chapter, where Paul lists a group of ancients from the Bible who walked by faith into uncertainty. 

While the verse is a good definition of faith and can be quoted verbatim when someone asks what faith is (personally I quote the verse from the KJV) but does the verse, standing alone, really help or does it make some of us want to point at a truck and shout “TRUCK!”?

So, this is one of those verses that needs to be read as a full chunk, read in context and perhaps even read some of the stories about the people mentioned to get a more in depth understanding of this simple definition.

To spare us all a lot of time, the “Hall of Fame” includes people who doubted, people who were flawed, people who often questioned God’s call, even trying to make things happen without God and blew it badly!, but they still (even if it was eventually) stepped out and did it anyway, they put belief into action, they acted on their deeply held convictions.

When my wife asked isn’t the answer…? I wholeheartedly agreed with her because she, unlike me, understands algebra so my belief in her intelligence, education, and past experience gave me the all the evidence I need that she was right.  

PRAYER: Almighty God, I thank you that I can be convinced of who you are, placing my hope in your promises, even though they may be unseen for now, I can place my wholehearted conviction in your faithfulness. Amen.

Today's devotion written by Danny Brock, LifeWay WestSide.