Hebrews 11:1-16

Hebrews 11.1-16
The Great Faith of God's People

Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we
cannot see. It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to
God. Because of our faith, we know that the world was made at God's
command. We also know that what can be seen was made out of what
cannot be seen. Because Abel had faith, he offered God a better
sacrifice than Cain did. God was pleased with him and his gift, and
even though Abel is now dead, his faith still speaks for him. Enoch
had faith and did not die. He pleased God, and God took him up to
heaven. That's why his body was never found. But without faith no one
can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards
everyone who searches for him. Because Noah had faith, he was warned
about something that had not yet happened. He obeyed and built a boat
that saved him and his family. In this way the people of the world
were judged, and Noah was given the blessings that come to everyone
who pleases God. Abraham had faith and obeyed God. He was told to go
to the land that God had said would be his, and he left for a country
he had never seen. Because Abraham had faith, he lived as a stranger
in the promised land. He lived there in a tent, and so did Isaac and
Jacob, who were later given the same promise. Abraham did this,
because he was waiting for the eternal city that God had planned and
built. Even when Sarah was too old to have children, she had faith
that God would do what he had promised, and she had a son. Her
husband Abraham was almost dead, but he became the ancestor of many
people. In fact, there are as many of them as there are stars in the
sky or grains of sand along the beach.
Every one of those people died. But they still had faith, even though
they had not received what they had been promised. They were glad just
to see these things from far away, and they agreed that they were only
strangers and foreigners on this earth. When people talk this way, it
is clear that they are looking for a place to call their own. If they
had been talking about the land where they had once lived, they could
have gone back at any time. But they were looking forward to a better
home in heaven. That's why God wasn't ashamed for them to call him
their God. He even built a city for them."

Father God, forgive my sins. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ down
to die on the cross and for shedding his blood for me. Three days
later you resurrected him. I accept that. I invite Jesus Christ into
my heart as my Lord and savior. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

God bless you.