Coffee With The Lord

FAITH! … It’s a big deal for me – and for that matter ANYONE who wants to please God and know Him personally! “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God mut believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him!” (Hebrews 11:6)

This morning I finished reading the section of Hebrews 11 in my Bible (Hebrews 11:32-40). My personal definition of faith is “confidence in God (and everything about Him – His person, His character, His dealings with us and others, His word, His promises, His warnings, etc.) In fact, here’s what I jotted in the margin of my Bible this morning about that final section of Hebrews 11…

“Here are all the kinds of things that FAITH – confidence in God – accomplishes in a person’s life (great things and challenging things – EVERYthing!)… Here it for your reading, reflection and response…

“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets — who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection.

“But some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated — of whom the world was not worthy — wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

“And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” (From Hebrews 11:11–40 ESV)

Yup… FAITH – Confidence in God through all that life brings our way – God’s faithfulness – God’s purposes fulfilled in my life! I’m trusting in Him!

Here’s some really good advice from my time of “Coffee with the Lord” today in Proverbs… “Do not say, ‘I will repay evil!’ – Wait for the Lord, and He will deliver [or vindicate] you! (Proverbs 20:22 ESV) Help me Lord to always heed these wise, godly words!!

This morning in my Bible reading I was reminded why I am so grateful for what Jesus accomplished for me (and you) when He died for our sin on the cross!

Under the old system, described in the Old Testament, a human high priest, burdened with the same sin we all bear, was required to offer sacrifice for sin. A single sacrifice for sin was not adequate – many sacrifices were required and had to offered repeatedly. The only authorized place for offering the sacrifices was a sacred place – the tabernacle or temple. Sacrifice had to be provided at the sinners own expense… I could go on…

Now read these words from Hebrews and be grateful!!

“Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever!

“Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the Living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered Himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins… for without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.“

(From Hebrews 9:11–22 New Living Translation)