Faith
Day 658, Sunday, May 31
Hebrews Chapter 11 – 12:3
Much like 1 Corinthians 13 is known as the Love Chapter, Hebrews 11 is known as the Faith Chapter. It begins with, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.”
The writer then presents a long list of the heroes of Judaism, showing how each of them acted out of faith to do what they did.
In verse 13 we read, “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.”
Unlike those heroic ancients, we have seen what they were waiting for: the coming of Christ, and his defeat of sin and death.
The first verses of chapter 12 conclude the lesson of chapter 11: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Sunday meditation

Psalms 130:1-8
Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Prayer focus
Grant us faith, O Lord, that we may persevere as did your great servants of the past.