Dig Deeper:
THE CHOICE IS OBVIOUS: Chapter 11 begins in the last verse of chapter 10 where a choice is presented: a person can either shrink back and be destroyed, or have faith and be saved.
TRANSLATION IS NOT ALWAYS SO EASY: Often times when we go from one language to another, there is only one specific word that matches the word being translated. For example, the only way to translate the Spanish word roja into English is with the word red. But that's not always the case. Sometimes it a word is so rich & meaningful, it's hard to express it with just one word in English. Such is the case in v1: "Faith is the...
NIV: confidence of things hoped for and the assurance of what we do not see.
ESV: assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of what we do not see.
LEB: realization of things hoped for and the proof of what we do not see.
NET: being sure of things hoped for and being convinced of what we do not see.
KJV: substance of things hoped for and the evidence of what we do not see.
The cool thing is that none of these translations is better than another: they're all an awesome description of what faith is all about.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING YOU DON'T HAVE: This chapter was not was not written because the people mentioned need to be honored for having some sort of super spiritual power that you don't have, quite the opposite in fact. They were given faith from the same source it's been given to you: directly from the Holy Spirit. Granted, they were given faith for extraordinary times and events in Biblical history, but the point is that you have been given the same Spiritual power they have, even if your circumstances are far more plain & ordinary.
FAITH POINTS FORWARD: None of the heroes mentioned in this chapter fully received the things they were promised in spite of their tremendous faith (v39). Because we've come to know Christ and His Word, we've received far more than anyone listed in this chapter, but we too continue to look forward to the day when our faith is made perfect (complete - v40).
MEMORY VERSES:
10:39 - But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
11:1 - Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Prayer Tips:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The one who formed the universe at His command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible (v3).
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Ask that God will help you live by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
