What faith does
Happy is everyone who fears the Lord,
Who walks in his ways. Psalm 128:1
Read Hebrews 11:23—31
Faith, the way I have had it, what has been its character? What has been its effect? Faith as I read it here has led the faithful to strenuous actions posited on the truth that lies in the future, out of sight. It has issued in defiant courage, defiance of the tyrant. An uncompromising self-denial, the surrender of privilege and status and power. In voluntary poverty. In resistance and persistence. In observance in worship. In heroism, really, in leadership and battle (using ridiculous tactics) and new and dangerous loyalties. Faith makes impossible things happen and unseen things materialise. So I put the question to myself again: is this faith the way I have faith?
Dear Lord, I can see that so much can grow in me through this life of faith. I trust you for what I do not see yet. I trust you for what I do not have yet. And in that trust that you develop within me, somehow you bring into being in me things I will see and things I will have. For it is in people whose faith is in you that I see the character I admire, the Godliness, the courage, the ability to put themselves aside. Everything I most want in my life, it seems, I cannot have apart from faith in you. I thank you for it and I pray for it, in Jesus’ name.