By Faith...

Day 1

1Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.2For by this our ancestors were approved.
HEBREWS 11:1-2 (CSB)

Commentary

Genuine faith and hope are the product of a soul saved by Christ. Without God's intervention — the touching of your heart — you cannot experience such faith. It is a gift of God.

The faith that God gives you the ability to have is a faith that proves the things which we cannot see. We are given knowledge and understanding by the Holy Spirit, who guides us through God's Word. He searches the depths of the mind of God and reveals things to the born-again believer that were once a mystery.

For the believer in Christ Jesus, the physical eyes are not nearly as important as the spiritual eyes, which reveal physically unseen realities. An example would be when you're faced with a tough choice, where deception is at play, but you are able to see through the attempted deception and have peace in the choice you made. That's the Holy Spirit guiding your spiritual eyes and ears.

7For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:7 (CSB)

Soul Search

Do I still navigate life through my physical senses or am I allowing the Holy Spirit to train my spiritual senses?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for this gift of faith that You have given me, for touching this heart that was once stone and making it flesh. Thank You for the eyes and ears to see and hear the spiritual things around me. I trust in You to lead my way. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen

Day 2

3By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
HEBREWS 11:3 (CSB)

Commentary

To the faithless, evolution looks like the factual interpretation of creation. But to the faithful, understanding comes to us from the Lord that Genesis is in fact the truth about creation. Everything we see is a testament to our Creator, and He has given us the book of Genesis to provide insight into His work.

1The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.
PSALMS 19:1 (CSB)

Psalm 19:1 tells us that the sky, the expanse of this vast universe, reveals the work of His hands. There is no way that any of this was made by chance, by evolution. And it's by faith that we as believers understand such things, though this world looks upon us as fools. It's that childlike trust in God that separates us from them.

15Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
MARK 10:15 (CSB)

Soul Search

Have I ever looked up to the heavens and marveled at what God has made?

Prayer

Lord God, words can't even begin to describe the awe and wonder of Your creation. Though many try to explain Your work away with the poorly contrived myths of evolution, Your glory radiates from the grandness and magnitude of what You have made. You are truly marvelous, my God! In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen

Day 3

4By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.
HEBREWS 11:4 (CSB)

Commentary

The offering itself didn't matter. God doesn't care if it's animals, plants, money, or time. It was the hearts of those two men that made all the difference. It was not the act of giving to the Lord that justified Abel; it was his genuine faith. Just like you and I, our faith in Jesus justifies us in the sight of God. You can remember it like this, justified = just if I'd never sinned.

3In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the LORD.4And Abel also presented an offering ​— ​some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,5but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.6Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent?7If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”8Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
GENESIS 4:3-8 (CSB)

Through Abel's genuine faith came a desire and eagerness to please God. Abel gave to God from among his firstborn livestock, not worried about what he would do without those animals, which were important for food and making a living. He understood that God would take care of Him if he put Him first.

Cain, on the other hand, took some time to offer some of his harvest to the Lord. He lacked the eagerness, joyfulness, and trust. His heart was not in the right place. Though God warned Cain not to let sin master him, he was overcome by it because he lacked faith.

Soul Search

Is my faith moving me to do wonderful things for the Lord?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, Your grace and mercy have saved me by my faith in You. May this faith be the foundation for how I live out the rest of my life on this earth. With an eagerness and joy in my heart to do the things that please You. In Your wonderful name, I pray. Amen

Day 4

5By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God.
HEBREWS 11:5 (CSB)

Commentary

If there ever was a case for the rapturing of the righteous, this event with Enoch would be it. God took Enoch away from this world, sometime before the Flood, because of his saving faith in Him. God showed mercy upon His child, not keeping Enoch on Earth for His coming wrath.

24Enoch walked with God; then he was not there because God took him.
GENESIS 5:24 (CSB)
I believe Enoch to be a type of the Church before the Tribulation, with Noah being a type of Israel during the Tribulation. The Church will be spared His wrath, and a remnant of unbelieving Israel will be protected through the Tribulation so that they will come to faith at the end.
10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead ​— ​Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
1 THESSALONIANS 1:10 (CSB)

If God took Enoch and spared him from His wrath on the Earth, won't He do the same for those believers who are alive right before the Tribulation? I believe that is exactly what Scripture teaches and is something we should find great hope and joy in.

Soul Search

Am I eager for the Lord coming to get His Bride?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You've told us that You're building a place for us in Your Father's house and that You will come again to take us to that place You are preparing. Let me not listen to the lies and confusion that surrounds this fact, but instead dwell upon it with joy and expectation. Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen

Day 5

6Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
HEBREWS 11:6 (CSB)

Commentary

I’m not going to say that a believer must understand all verses of the Bible to be saved, but if a professing Christian thinks that some or all of the Bible is wrong, outdated, or mythology, then how can they truly believe that the God of the Bible exists? This, my friend, is living on a razor's edge.

Total belief in the God of the Bible is required for salvation; you must believe that you're a sinner who needs a Savior and that Jesus is that Savior whom God the Father has provided. Your faith pleases God, and He has and will continue to bless you because of it. Just look at the faith that the bleeding woman had and how Jesus blessed her as a result of her genuine faith. She fully trusted in Jesus, and her faith revealed to her that He could heal her. He was pleased by her faith and blessed her with total healing from her bleeding disorder.

43A woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years, who had spent all she had on doctors and yet could not be healed by any,44approached from behind and touched the end of his robe. Instantly her bleeding stopped.45“Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are hemming you in and pressing against you.”46“Someone did touch me,” said Jesus.“I know that power has gone out from me.”47When the woman saw that she was discovered, she came trembling and fell down before him. In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched him and how she was instantly healed.48“Daughter,” he said to her,“your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
LUKE 8:43-48 (CSB)

Soul Search

How has God blessed me in my faith and obedience?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You're always so good. Even in times of trouble, You are with me; in times of triumph, You make it possible to succeed; in times of weakness, You make me strong for You. Father, You have redeemed me from this world. By faith, Jesus has justified me, and Your Holy Spirit is sanctifying me every single day to become more like Your Son. Thank You for touching my heart with the ability to love You and have a faith that displays Your glory to me and makes my life better than it ever could've been without You. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen