Anglican Daily Fountain Devotional 15 May 2022
TOPIC: Exploits By Faith
READ: Hebrews 11:32-40; 12:1-2 (NKJV)
- And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also [of] David and Samuel and the prophets:
- who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
- quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
- Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
- Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
- They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented —
- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, [in] dens and caves of the earth.
- And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,
- God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
12:1. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares [us,] and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, - looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Anglican Daily Fountain Devotional 15 May 2022 MESSAGE
The roll call of the heroes of faith started in verse 1 is continued in our text today. Only six persons were listed by name (verse 32), but the exploits indicated in verses 33-39 covered much of the Old Testament history. The brethren lived at different times, places and societies, and faced differing challenges.
These range from personal life issues to wider social, political and military battles. But they had one thing in common – they lived and died by faith, for which they received a good divine reputation (verse 39). Their focus was on more enduring and heavenly rewards than immediate material gains (verses. 39-40).
Having overcome, these heroes of faith are part of the cloud of witnesses which indicate that we too can overcome our own challenges by the same faith (12:1). The challenges that we face today may appear unique or novel, but they are actually similar to what others have faced and overcome (1 Corinthians 10:13). The winning key is for us to focus on Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith (12:2). In this way, we join the growing assembly of those who overcame by faith.
PRAYER: O Lord, help me to live every day by faith.
