Heroes of the Faith

Let’s take a look at some of the heroes of the Bible.  Hebrews chapter 11 contains a great overview of a lot of them:

• As Abel gave of what he had as an offering, we can give our time, money, and skills to God’s work.  You don’t necessarily need to sell all that you have (unless you’re called to do so); just start by giving a little more, or volunteering to help someone else out.
• As Noah obeyed God in an evil world, we can follow God in our own environments – no matter how hostile.  Be strong when your faith causes you to be different from those around you.
• As Abraham set out to a strange land, maybe it’s time for you to step out into an unknown environment, whether that be serving others in a different part of town, or signing up for a mission trip.
• As Abraham was willing to give up his son for God, we can take a careful, critical look at our lives, to see if there is something we have made more important than God.  Take a break from whatever it is that pulls you away from God (whether that’s a smartphone that doesn’t stop buzzing, a job that doesn’t stop at the end of the workday, or a bad habit that drains your time or money).
• As Joseph looked ahead to God’s promise of his descendants leaving Egypt, we can make choices in our lives that prioritize eternal – rather than temporary – results.  Consider your schedule (where you are able to make choices) over the next few days, in light of what will matter in eternity.
• As Moses’ parents refused to give into an evil command from their government, we can stand up for the right thing (in a loving way, of course), even if that isn’t the same as social conventions in a given situation.  Don’t let yourself be carried away by every popular trend and cause.  Instead, determine what is actually important, and support that.
• As Moses himself chose to be defined by something other than his upbringing, we can work to break a pattern of negative behavior, if we see that in our past or in our family.  Make your generation better than the last.
• As the Israelites walked through the Red Sea, we can boldly follow where God leads us, even if it looks a little rough.  Live without fear of evil, knowing that evil is destined to lose.
• As the Israelites obeyed God’s commands to march around Jericho each day for a week, we can remain faithful to what God calls us to do, even if other people think that we look silly for doing so.  Think more about how God sees you, rather than how the crowd sees you.
• As Rahab stood up for God’s people, despite her profession, we can choose to not be defined by our past choices, but align ourselves with what is right.  Make today count without dwelling on yesterday.

To finish up, today, read through the rest of Hebrews 11 (verses 32-40), and be inspired to find out how you can be a hero of the faith, as well.

For more reading, see also Heroic Words.

A version of this devotion originally appeared at fcccanton.com, as a Study Guide for the February 28, 2016 message, “Be Heroic”.  Re-used by permission.