It's All Abouth Faith

When my wife Cheryl was pregnant with our daughter Amanda, we knew we wanted to find out if we were having a boy or a girl. Once the MRI told us girl, it only took a matter of seconds for us to decide on her middle name--Faith. It took faith to keep hoping after a long period of infertility that God would bless us with a child. It took faith to believe that God would protect our unborn baby as my wife's pregnancy was labeled high risk and she spend her last trimester on bed rest. It took faith to believe that because we prayed and God never took the desire to be parents away from us, that He would bless us with a child.

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. The word assurance comes from the Greek word meaning "confidence". Assurance and conviction says that Biblical faith is not based on vague hope or wishful thinking, but complete and total confidence that God holds the future and is working all things for good for those who trust in Him (Romans 8:28).

As God's men, we must wholeheartedly embrace the truth that God rewards faithfulness more than performance. A flawed worldly viewpoint tells us we must achieve, conquer, acquire, obtain, collect and accumulate more; none of which brings pleasure to the Father. Hebrews 10:38 says, but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.

Hebrews 11 recalls the heroes of the faith; all of whom were characterized by verse 6: And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.