Take Two: Hebrews 11, Proverbs 22

Hebrews 11 is pretty familiar territory for some...so it is easy to "gloss over" if we are not careful. (I catch myself doing that with familiar passages. I assume I know and have understood them...so I speed read them.) There really is no part of Scripture though that is so familar that we can afford to just "gloss over." Even things we can recite from memory...sometimes produce new thoughts when we read the words slowly and methodically.

The chapter continues the thought that has been the them all along. Because we have the "Perfect" (Jesus), then we can never go back to the "imperfect" (The Law...or any other inferior system for relating to God.)

So how do we know if we have "Jesus"? After all, shouldn't it get easier? And, if we do have Him...what do we do when things are tough?

The call has been and continues to be that we exercise faith in God. What is "faith." It is the confident belief in that which is not yet measurable (Heb 11:1). We have faith in God, not yet having SEEN Him. We have faith in heaven, not yet having BEEN there. If we "confidently believe" in something...we act accordingly. This is the point that jumps off of the page in Hebrews 11. Abel offered a better sacrifice by faith (Heb 11:4). Enoch lived his life pleasing God (Heb 12:5). Abraham obeyed God (Heb 11:8-12). All of these died without ever seeing God face to face...yet they lived as though they would (Heb 12:13). This living according to their faith made it evident that they were trusting in a world still unseen...and God was not ashamed to call them His children (Heb 11:14-16).

With each of those saints that followed, the same is true. They believed...and acted by faith. Sometimes...their faith was rewarded in the short-term with observable victory (Heb 11:32-35); at other times, it resulted only in long-term victory (Heb 11:35-38). In both cases, they acted by faith and in both cases they received a victory. Yet...as the writer is about to point out...none of them ever even saw the Messiah...yet they demonstrated perfect/perfected faith.

By a man's actions...we can know what He believes in his heart. Some people are "into Jesus" for the short-term benefit. As long as they have health and prosperity...they are good with Christianity. Others are "into Jesus" but only on their terms. Those who are truly Christ-followers...choose Him over all things...whether they experience blessing or hardship...knowing that they have a hope waiting-- that exceeds every expectation.

Proverbs 22:15 is the takeaway today. This is a verse I have read many times and have even quoted to folks along the way. As I read it this morning...I was impressed that God disciplines us for the same reason and with the same goal. When we receive the discipline of God...it is because...at our core...we are unwise/foolish (rebellious against God). We will not relinquish this attitude/disposition easily. In fact, it is bound up within us. We will not choose to forsake it...until it is so costly/painful to keep it...that we choose to let it go. Therefore, God disciplines us.

Discipline is good. It reminds us of the love of God which is displayed in His desire to see us live free from that which binds us up.

Grace,