Why Jesus Established a New Covenant (Hebrews 8-9)
We often like to associate great faith with bold acts of courage. But often the greatest demonstrations of faith we will make are those quiet mornings we choose to wake up and make the next right decision—regardless of how out of alignment our choices might seem with what we hope God has in store.
Hebrews 8-9
Today's Scripture Passage
A Few Thoughts to Consider
What does true faith look like?
Hebrews 11 is often called the "Hall of Faith" chapter. But it's important to note, as Robert Peterson does, that the individuals listed in these 39 verses "were often quite fallible in character. They became heroic not by their abilities or advantages but by the eternal purposes of the One in whom they placed their faith."[1]
Verse 6 is a pivotal part of this narrative when the author says, "Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." As my professor in college, Alan Brown, often pointed out, this verse indicates true faith always involves three components: belief, commitment, and trust. "Faith believes what God says, commits to do as God requires, and trust in and rests on God's promises."[2]
If there were any part I would add to this definition, it would be the tiny phrase "and often for many years without divine reassurance that we're on the right path." I add this part a bit tongue in cheek, but when we look at the lives of the people mentioned in Hebrews 11, we cannot help but notice the sheer time attached to their faith. It's one thing to believe God's promises for a day. But it's another to believe them when these promises are not even fulfilled in one's lifetime.
This was certainly a message the oppressed recipients of the Hebrews' letter needed to hear. As George Guthrie writes,
The message to the original hearers must not be missed, for their circumstance must be seen as analogous to that of the patriarchs. Perhaps their current experience of persecution has highlighted the alien nature of their earthly existence. They cannot perceive the fulfillment of God's promises to them; all they can see is the difficulty of their present crisis. The writer's point is that this is normal for people of faith. The promises of God must be embraced even though their fulfillment lies in the future.[3]
Those last two sentences are especially poignant and perhaps they resonate with you today. Maybe you have placed your hope in God, but there is much you do not understand. Perhaps you felt certain that God told you something would happen, and it hasn't. You thought being a Christian would look one way, but it's turned out very different. You wrestle with doubts, have grown disgruntled with hypocrites, and are disheartened by unanswered prayer.
