Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

August 1st, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

This all-encompassing verse explains both what faith in Jesus Christ is and what that faith does. The heart of faith develops its own eyes, which see spiritual things coming that can’t yet be seen by the physical eye. When the author, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes, “faith is the substance,” he uses a single Greek word hupostasis, meaning “to stay under, a foundation.” So faith is the foundation on which all our hopes for the future are built. Faith doesn’t make imaginary things come true, but rather it enables God’s people to live with certainty and confidence in the realities that are true, though not yet physically visible.

Mature believers who have trusted God through years of great trials, sorrow, and pain will tell you that Jesus has become so real and precious to them, that they are absolutely confident of His promises. When we chose to look with eyes of faith, we become more and more confident of the reality of God and what awaits us in eternity. And as we are commanded to love others, we are compelled to share the truth we have found in Jesus with those around us. Many will not appreciate our responsibility to tell others and will complain of our freedom to express it openly. But love leaves us no other recourse than to care about others enough to share the truth of Jesus Christ’s dying so that they might live.

“LORD, give us the courage to speak words of faith to others this day.”