The Hall of Faith

Most every week, because of my occupation, I have the privilege of having conversations with individuals seeking to fill a void, a relationship with the Lord, a church family, or simply direction in a given situation. If you haven't noticed already, I love having these types of conversations with people. It is literally what I live for! I love helping people know Christ, helping people better understand their identity in Christ, helping people work through difficult issues and struggles in a biblical fashion, helping people live beyond themselves, directing people to a better understanding of the Truth... and so much more. I seriously have the best job in the world!


In the journey of life, there are always certain individuals who stick out as jewels. Interestingly, its not the people with the nicest car, biggest house, most trendy clothes or whatever. They are those people who along the way stand out as individuals who have an incredible passion and devotion to Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 11, we find some of these jewels that rise out of the text throughout Scripture. This is the highlight "widget" of Scripture... it's the recap, the headlines that reveal amazing testimonies of faith. Hebrews 11 has often been referred to as the "Hall of Faith." Many of the people here stand as exemplary models of who we should strive to be in our walk with Christ.

This Sunday, in our small groups, we look at Hebrews 11:8, focusing on the life of Abraham. It was he who "by faith... when called, he answered... when told to leave, he went... when told he would have decendants, he became a father (though he was at a very old age)... when tested, he proved faithful. All these things occurred through, or because of, his faith in Jesus Christ.

Abraham along with the rest of those mentioned in this chapter did not just hold to some cosy spirituality that said "what's good for you is good for me!" that gave them a label as a "person of faith." You should notice there are a lot of "spiritual" people in the world today. No, their faith rested in an all-powerful, all-knowing, sovereign, eternal, good God who lives to this day and continues to work through people just like He did through Abraham. People who live their lives not just for themselves, wrapped up in their own little world, but He works through people who have faith in Jesus Christ, and trust in his plan, will, and desire for their lives and the world around them.

May you and I have this same faith, and may it drive us to selfless living beyond ourselves.

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