Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Jeremiah+007
 

Jeremiah 7 (ESV)

¹ The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the Lord. ³ Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. ⁴ Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’

⁵ “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, ⁶ if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, ⁷ then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.

 

REFLECTION:

This passage describes God sending Jeremiah to the temple gate to correct people’s wrong thinking, because they mistakenly thought that God would not bring harm to the temple and the people living near the temple, regardless of their behaviour. Jeremiah made severe accusations against the false and empty beliefs and idolatry of the people. While the people continue to worship as usual, they live a life full of sins. This is a completely false religious belief. The attitudes of the Judahites looking at the temple in the past and some “Christians” looking at the church nowadays have a lot in common: they worship God solemnly in the church but act according to their own way once they stepped out of the church. They regard their appearance, image, and sense of belonging in the church to be more important than changing their lives for God. They think that being attached to a superficial religious ritual can avoid disasters. We should be wary of ourselves becoming such “Christians.” If we go to church meetings, partake communion, teach Sunday school, participate in choirs, or participate in other ministries, but do not truly do it for God, then everything we do is just illusory and meaningless. Only when our motive is to please God, not to satisfy our secret and selfish desires, can everything we do be acceptable to God and become good.

 

PRAYER:

Ask God to enlighten you, examine your motive for participating in ministries, and see if there is any selfishness in it. If so, confess your sins to God and repent, ask God to cleanse your heart; dedicate to God that you will try your best to please Him and don’t care how others think of you.

 

HYMN:

Living For Jesus – youtu.be/Jn-czHr13FE

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Jeremiah+006
 

Jeremiah 6 (ESV)

⁹ Thus says the Lord of hosts:
“They shall glean thoroughly as a vine
the remnant of Israel;
like a grape gatherer pass your hand again
over its branches.”
¹⁰ To whom shall I speak and give warning,
that they may hear?
Behold, their ears are uncircumcised,
they cannot listen;
behold, the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn;
they take no pleasure in it.
¹¹ Therefore I am full of the wrath of the Lord;
I am weary of holding it in.
“Pour it out upon the children in the street,
and upon the gatherings of young men, also;
both husband and wife shall be taken,
the elderly and the very aged.
¹² Their houses shall be turned over to others,
their fields and wives together,
for I will stretch out my hand
against the inhabitants of the land,”
declares the Lord.
¹³ “For from the least to the greatest of them,
everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
and from prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.
¹⁴ They have healed the wound of my people lightly,
saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
when there is no peace.
¹⁵ Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
No, they were not at all ashamed;
they did not know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,”
says the Lord.

 

REFLECTION:

The “remnant of Israel” mentioned here does not refer to the righteous people left behind, but the people who survived the first assault in Jerusalem. Babylon is like a grape picker who wants to capture all the people from the countries they defeated. Babylon has invaded Judah three times, and finally devoured the whole country and destroyed the temple (see 2 Kings 24-25). Jeremiah was filled with grief and anger, because the people turned a deaf ear to his message. At that time, the Judahites no longer paid much attention to the spiritual corruption, and it seemed more or less like the spiritual situation in today’s materialistic society. Like the people in Jeremiah’s day, people nowadays do not obey God’s commands, are shameless, and do whatever they want. If Jeremiah was born in today’s world, would he have the same lament? Burying one’s head in the sand, acting deceitfully, and thinking that they are at peace, this is the response of the Judahites after hearing Jeremiah’s warning. How do we respond to the warning from God today? Denying the facts does not change the facts, and what God has said must be fulfilled. Denying sin cannot wipe away sin. The only way out is to confess to God that you have sinned against Him, and ask Him for forgiveness.

 

PRAYER:

Come to God in awe, and ask God to enlighten the gloom of your heart, so that you can understand whether you have greedy thoughts in your heart, whether you have deceitful acts in your daily activities. If you have, confess your sins to God, repent, and ask Him to cleanse and strengthen your heart, making you more sensitive to sin and desire for God.

 

HYMN:

Reign In Us – youtu.be/RXF6Dg6H0ds

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Jeremiah+005
 

Jeremiah 5 (ESV)

¹⁴ Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts:
“Because you have spoken this word,
behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire,
and this people wood, and the fire shall consume them.
¹⁵ Behold, I am bringing against you
a nation from afar, O house of Israel,
declares the Lord.
It is an enduring nation;
it is an ancient nation,
a nation whose language you do not know,
nor can you understand what they say.
¹⁶ Their quiver is like an open tomb;
they are all mighty warriors.
¹⁷ They shall eat up your harvest and your food;
they shall eat up your sons and your daughters;
they shall eat up your flocks and your herds;
they shall eat up your vines and your fig trees;
your fortified cities in which you trust
they shall beat down with the sword.”

¹⁸ “But even in those days, declares the Lord, I will not make a full end of you. ¹⁹ And when your people say, ‘Why has the Lord our God done all these things to us?’ you shall say to them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve foreigners in a land that is not yours.’”

 

REFLECTION:

“A nation from afar” refers to Babylon. Babylon is an ancient country. The old Babylonian Empire appeared from 1900 to 1550 BC, and other empires were built on that land as early as 3000 BC. Babylon in Jeremiah’s time rose rapidly, established its own military force, attacked and defeated Assyria, and became another great empire that dominated the world after Assyria. Have you ever met someone you have talked with for a long time, but that person didn’t hear a word? Are you angry? God is also angry with the people who have repeatedly refused to listen to Him. However, God still has endless love in His anger, and He still leaves a way out for them and does not “make a full end of them.” God has clearly told the Judahites and Israelites that those who obey Him will be blessed, and those who rebel against Him will be destroyed, but they still ignorantly shut their eyes and ears. Instead they asked God “why have you done all these things to us?” Reflect if we are like the people of Judah who pretended to be deaf and dumb with God’s words. May our ears listen carefully to God’s words, and our eyes focus on the abundance and glory that God will accomplish for our obedient life.

 

PRAYER:

Ask God for clearer eyes, so that you can see the glory of God; more sensitive ears, so that you can hear more of God’s words; Ask God for a loving, wise, and humble heart, making you a suitable vessel to bear witness for the Lord before others.

 

HYMN:

Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) – youtu.be/61l1zx9Y_MQ

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Jeremiah+004
 

Jeremiah 4 (ESV)

¹⁹ My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain!
Oh the walls of my heart!
My heart is beating wildly;
I cannot keep silent,
for I hear the sound of the trumpet,
the alarm of war.
²⁰ Crash follows hard on crash;
the whole land is laid waste.
Suddenly my tents are laid waste,
my curtains in a moment.
²¹ How long must I see the standard
and hear the sound of the trumpet?

²² “For my people are foolish;
they know me not;
they are stupid children;
they have no understanding.
They are ‘wise’—in doing evil!
But how to do good they know not.”

 

REFLECTION:

The people of Judah don’t know God, they only know how to indulge in pleasure, and they don’t want to live a life of integrity and kindness, so God calls them “foolish” (v22). Jeremiah saw that the coming judgment would lead people to an abyss of misery, so that he felt heart-piercing and mourned. This judgment will not end until the people repent and obey God’s commands. Although this prophecy originally pointed to the destruction of the Kingdom of Judah by Babylon, it was not unreasonable to also announce the judgment of the end times. “Not knowing God” is not just being ignorant of God, it is knowingly committing a crime, deliberately rebelling against Him and resisting Him. We should understand that not knowing God is the greatest foolishness, and this foolishness will manifest itself in every aspect of our daily lives. Today, the righteous God also pays great attention to our daily behaviour. The judgment that God imposed on the stupid Israelites will also come to those who “don’t know” Him today. Reflect whether I am a wise person or a foolish person? Or is it stubbornness mixed with wisdom? We should be vigilant, learn how to live a life of obedience to God, and strive to bear witness for God, learn more about God and please Him, so that we can stand fearlessly before God’s judgment.

 

PRAYER:

Pray to God, ask Him to enlighten and guide you in your daily life, so that you can know Him more deeply and experience His grace more fully. Ask God to make you more vigilant, so that you can be free from the influence and temptation of the unrighteous people around you and follow their way.

 

HYMN:

Reaching For You – youtu.be/f7pV71J9al0

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Jeremiah+003
 

Jeremiah 3 (ESV)

¹¹ And the Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. ¹² Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say,

“‘Return, faithless Israel,
declares the Lord.
I will not look on you in anger,
for I am merciful,
declares the Lord;
I will not be angry forever.
¹³ Only acknowledge your guilt,
that you rebelled against the Lord your God
and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree,
and that you have not obeyed my voice,
declares the Lord.
¹⁴ Return, O faithless children,
declares the Lord;
for I am your master;
I will take you, one from a city and two from a family,
and I will bring you to Zion.

¹⁵ “‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. ¹⁶ And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. ¹⁷ At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart. ¹⁸ In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers for a heritage.

 

REFLECTION:

The Israelites of the Northern Kingdom were punished by God for their sins, and finally their country was destroyed, and they became captives of other countries. The people of Judah saw the judgment of Israel for their rampant paganism and moral decay; they undoubtedly believed that the Israelites deserved the punishment and sneered at them. Jeremiah told the remnants of Israel that Jehovah still blesses those who are willing to return to Him and confess their sins and repent, and warned those Judahites who thought they were innocent and smug to learn from the history of Israel’s fall and repent and return to Jehovah.

Since the people of Judah refused to repent, Jeremiah taught them with God’s promise to the remnants of Israel. When King Solomon ruled the entire nation of Israel, the people worshipped God in the magnificent temple. The ark of God was placed in the temple. Inside, there was a tablet engraved with the Ten Commandments, which was a symbol of God’s presence with the people.  God’s love is fully manifested in this passage. Although the people are “faithless,” God still calls them “children” and eagerly calls them back to their homes. The voice of God calling His people to turn back across time and space and is echoing in our ears today. The question is whether our ears are open to listen, and our hearts are willing to repent?

 

PRAYER:

Pray for God to enable you to open your eyes, open your ears, and open your heart all the time, so that you can see, hear, and understand God’s good intentions for you in everything you experience. Ask God to help you desire for Him more and build an intimate relationship with Him, because He is your heavenly father and you are His beloved son or daughter.

 

HYMN:

His Mercy Is More – youtu.be/I1GiZL60c80

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Jeremiah+002
 

Jeremiah 2 (ESV)

¹ The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the Lord,

“I remember the devotion of your youth,
your love as a bride,
how you followed me in the wilderness,
in a land not sown.
³ Israel was holy to the Lord,
the firstfruits of his harvest.
All who ate of it incurred guilt;
disaster came upon them,
declares the Lord.”

⁴ Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel. ⁵ Thus says the Lord:

“What wrong did your fathers find in me
that they went far from me,
and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?
⁶ They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord
who brought us up from the land of Egypt,
who led us in the wilderness,
in a land of deserts and pits,
in a land of drought and deep darkness,
in a land that none passes through,
where no man dwells?’
⁷ And I brought you into a plentiful land
to enjoy its fruits and its good things.
But when you came in, you defiled my land
and made my heritage an abomination.
⁸ The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’
Those who handle the law did not know me;
the shepherds transgressed against me;
the prophets prophesied by Baal
and went after things that do not profit.

⁹ “Therefore I still contend with you,
declares the Lord,
and with your children’s children I will contend.
¹⁰ For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see,
or send to Kedar and examine with care;
see if there has been such a thing.
¹¹ Has a nation changed its gods,
even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
for that which does not profit.
¹² Be appalled, O heavens, at this;
be shocked, be utterly desolate,
declares the Lord,
¹³ for my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no water.

 

REFLECTION:

This passage uses a marriage relationship as a metaphor for God’s love for His people and His people’s attachment for idols. The contrast between the two is sharp and strong, highlighting the sin of Judah (often referred to by the people of Jerusalem, the capital of the South Kingdom) of being unfaithful to God. Jeremiah rebuked Judah for always seeking safety and security in things that are vain and ever-changing, but not relying on the eternal and unchanging God. The various firstfruits are sacrifices to God, and the people of Judah have adhered to this law of offering throughout the ages. In the past, Judah was like the bride of God, a holy and loyal people, eager to please God. But in Jeremiah’s time, their behaviour was completely corrupted, in sharp contrast with the past.

Who would rather hew out cisterns to hold rainwater and abandon the endless stream of living water? God told the people of Judah that their behaviour of abandoning God and worshipping idols was just so stupid. To make matters worse, they chose broken cisterns that could not hold water in an attempt to carry the truth with a set of vain and foolish secular laws. Since God Himself is the source of living water, why should we abandon Him and attach to the “benefits” brought by the “cisterns” (money, power, or other things of the world)? We may obey God at first and please Him, but then we may be tempted to gradually turn away from Him and seek security in our possessions, abilities, or other things. Think about how you dedicated yourself to obey God at first, and then ask yourself whether you are still so sincere and enthusiastic now.

 

PRAYER:

Thank God for the abundant providence in your life physically and spiritually. Ask God to work in your heart so that you will be focused and fervent, and continue to serve and desire God in the years to come, without being distracted by the sounds of the world. Ask God to be the source of strength for all your activities and give you a more abundant life.

 

HYMN:

To You – youtu.be/OSK7x08YaJ4

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Jeremiah+001
 

JEREMIAH

INTRODUCTION

The prophet Jeremiah spoke to the kingdom of Judah for forty years—from the end of the Assyrian period until Judah was destroyed by Babylon. The book mixes sermons, prophetic oracles, and biographical narratives of Jeremiah’s experiences during the last years of the Judean kingdom. We are given an intimate look into the prophet’s own heart as he brings God’s message to his fellow Judeans, who reject him and even conspire to kill him.

The book begins and ends with historical references to the event Jeremiah was best known for predicting: the fall of Jerusalem. The four main parts generally consist (in order) of oracles, narratives (two sections), and then oracles. Significantly, each of these four parts ends with a reference to Jeremiah’s words being written in a book or scroll. A long poetic oracle is inserted in the middle narrative of the book. So Jeremiah’s prophecies appear at the beginning, middle and end of the book, highlighting their importance. The middle oracle, promising a new covenant designed to change the human heart, is shown to be the most important of all. God will do more than simply punish evil—he will overcome it with good.

The book of Jeremiah carries us back and forth in place and time as we turn its pages, yet its themes are consistent. The message of judgment for wrongdoing is followed by the restorative power of forgiveness and new life: to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.

 

www.bible.com/zh-TW/bible/111/JER.INTRO1.NIV

 

Jeremiah 1 (ESV)

¹ The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, ² to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. ³ It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month.

The Call of Jeremiah

⁴ Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

⁶ Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” ⁷ But the Lord said to me,

“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;
for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,
and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
⁸ Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
declares the Lord.”

⁹ Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,

“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
¹⁰ See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to break down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”

 

REFLECTION:

After the death of King Solomon, the Kingdom of Israel split into two opposing nations, the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Jeremiah was born in Anathoth about five kilometers north of Jerusalem in the southern kingdom. He preached as a prophet and served during the reign of the last five kings of Judah. Jeremiah was appointed by God to be the “prophet to the nations.” This was originally a glorious call, but it caused him to suffer persecution and humiliation throughout his life. During that period, the kingdom of Judah was very corrupt in politics, morality, and spirituality. Although Jeremiah continued to prophesy for forty years and urged the people and leaders to repent and leave their sins, no one listened to him.

In fact, God has His beautiful will in every Christian. God knows you just as he knows Jeremiah. Before you were formed in your mother’s womb, before you were born into the world, God already knew you, cared about you, and planned your life for you. When you feel discouraged and desperate, He always cares about you, regards you as a precious treasure, and has made a life-long plan for you. God did not promise Jeremiah that he would not encounter hardships and difficulties, but promised to “save” him out of trouble and be with him. God did not save Jeremiah from imprisonment, exile, and humiliation. In the same way, God did not save us from the storms of life, but He will accompany us, protect us, save us, and walk with us. Let us not be in fear. In the end, God will redress for all the injustices we encounter, and all our obedience to God in adversity will be praised and rewarded by God. Our life will be more abundant when we are guided and shaped by God’s hand.

 

PRAYER:

Count God’s blessings, thank Him for all the guidance and edification in your life. Thank God for saving you from past difficulties time and time again, even beyond your expectation. Ask God to continue to walk with you, and in the years to come will have more guidance and training for you, help you to be more mature, and not afraid of future life storms.

 

HYMN:

I Will Walk The Way Of The Cross – youtu.be/PlkxYDvyQ84

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Hebrews+013
 

Hebrews Chapter 13 (ESV)

¹ Let brotherly love continue. ² Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.³ Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. ⁴ Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. ⁵ Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁶ So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

⁷ Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Chapter at a Glance: The Christian’s faith journey is a race which brings glory to God by the way the runners behave. In the concluding chapter, the author wrote down a variety of duties to God and humanity. Together they reveal an exalted level of personal morality and duty.
2. How do we find contentment when everything in our society shouts at us, luring us to desire more? Just remember that in God you already possess everything.
3. The stock market can fall, and you will lose everything. Thieves can break in and your possessions will disappear. The economy can crash and interest rates rise. In this world there simply is no security in wealth, or the things that money can buy. But when God is with you, and when you have His promise, “I will never leave you”, you enjoy the ultimate security. There is nothing that can threaten you when you walk hand in hand with the Lord.
4. Take several minutes to explore your life in light of this instruction “Keep your life free from love of money”.  How do you relate to material things?  Do you often wish you had more?  Do you feel that nothing can harm you because of what you have?  What fears do you have about God letting you down?  What would it be like to “be content with what I have”?  Talk with Him about this subject.  Attentively listen for His input.
5. “May I keep my life free from the love of money and be content with what I have. You have said, ‘I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you.’”  Pause to notice your internal reaction to what you’re saying.  Ask God to change your reluctance and unwillingness.

 

PRAYER:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.

 

HYMN:

Christ Is Enough – youtu.be/0fZ-tBR7LJ0

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Hebrews+012
 

Hebrews Chapter 12 (ESV)

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. ⁴ In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.⁵ And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. ⁶ For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

⁷ It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹ Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. ¹¹ For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Chapter at a Glance: Jesus and the cloud of witnesses urge us to wrestle against sin. We are to view hardship as God’s discipline of dearly loved sons and strengthen our resolve to live holy lives. We are to pursue peace and holiness. And we are not to despise God’s kingdom.
2. Here the author asks us to view hardship and suffering as discipline. God has not abandoned Christ’s followers. God is simply treating them as any wise father treats dearly loved children. This may seem strange, but this perspective makes any hardship we face so much easier. We no longer cringe away and wonder what we’ve done that God should punish us. Instead we reach up in our pain convinced that even our suffering is an expression of the love of God.
3. How might God use the “hardship” to discipline (train) you? Sit quietly for a while and see what God brings to mind.  How might you cooperate better with God in this training?  Take time to listen.
4. Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Take some time to confess and repent before the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

 

PRAYER:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.

 

HYMN:

Grace – youtu.be/51LGsPMKeAE

 

Read chapter in full: biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=Hebrews+011
 

Hebrews Chapter 11 (ESV)
¹ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ² For by it the people of old received their commendation. ³ By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible…

³² 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— ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴ 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. ³⁵ Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. ³⁶ Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.³⁷ 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— ³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

³⁹ And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, ⁴⁰ since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Chapter at a Glance: Faith is more clearly expressed in the way people live than in what they claim to believe. The nature and value of faith are revealed and illustrated in this honor roll of Old Testament saints. (If time allows, read all Hebrews 11, recall the stories as each name comes up.)
2. To many today, faith seems insubstantial for it is persistently holding on to notions that can’t be proven. In Scripture, the reverse is true. Faith is confident expectation that what we cannot see is more solid and real than the material universe. The root of this kind of faith is our conviction that “the universe was created by the word of God”.  God has priority over things we can taste, touch, see and feel.  God is more real than they are, because God is the source of their existence.
3. Faith does not guarantee anyone a life free of stress or pain. Many have suffered and even died for their faith.  Yet faith won for each the commendation of God. Faith wins even more for us. The Old Testament saints looked forward to a salvation they could not understand. We look back to a salvation assured by the cross on Calvary. And through the Spirit of God we enjoy a relationship with the Lord which can be more real to us than to the Old Testament saints.
4. Pray for the faith you need in your life right now to do God’s will and that God will find you faithful.

 

PRAYER:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.

 

HYMN:

It Is Well With My Soul – youtu.be/zY5o9mP22V0