Hebrews 11 – 13

Verse 11:6 opens a historical discussion on faith:

 Without faith no one can please God because the one coming to God must believe He exists, and He rewards those who come seeking.

I read this an almost think it’s actually a bad “thesis” since the read of chapter 11 is taking great men of the Bible and showing how they had faith. Take Moses and his “faith”. I reject that Moses had great faith since his early actions could be argued as more moral that of faith. And later if someone went to a mountain and saw a burning bush that did not consume the bush AND have the voice of God talking from it, that makes “faith” easy at that point.

Heck with me and my recent death, the more I talk with people the more I hear about others that had the same thing happen, yet they did not make it. I experienced a miracle and therefore it’s easier for me to have faith. But what about those who look at Moses’ story and say it’s just a story or my story and say it’s just luck, faith is more difficult for them.

Verse 12:2 is a simple instruction:

Now stay focused on Jesus, who designed and perfected our faith. He endured the cross and ignored the shame of that death because He focused on the joy that was set before Him; and now He is seated beside God on the throne, a place of honor.

We really need to stay focused on Jesus. Sure reading the OT gives us insight on the significance of Jesus but often times we get into too much debate of things like the Law and its application today. Jesus is why we have faith in salvation!!

Verse 12:7 often is difficult to follow:

Endure hardship as God’s discipline and rejoice that He is treating you as His children, for what child doesn’t experience discipline from a parent?

When things go wrong do you see it as a curse or a blessing? I know I am trying to stop this “family curse” crap which has popped up even recently. As I look back at all the “curses” I personally have endured I see they all built character. We go back to all the great people of the Bible and God did not just make them great, he MOLDED them through hardship and trials. We need to reject the “curse” mentality and realize trials are just blessings making us stronger. “That which doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger” – Friedrich Nietzsche, from a beer tee-shirt.