In verse 11 of Hebrews 11, the writer shifts momentarily from Abraham’s faith to that of Sarah.  It is through Sarah’s faith in God’s promise that she is able to conceive at the age of 90 and jointly with Abraham receive the blessing of the promise.

Continuing our look into Hebrews 11, after the examples of Abel, Enoch, and Noah, the Hebrew writer mentions Abraham. He’s going to speak about Abraham in verses 8 - 10 and then again in 17-19. I’m also going to deal with Abraham in two sections because I don’t know how you wouldn’t…I mean, if it’s good enough for the Hebrews writer…

In Hebrews 11:6, we are told that without faith, we can’t be pleasing to God.  It is the beginning; the seed of our hope rests in the knowledge that God is and that He will keep His promises and reward those who seek to be with Him, which has been the rule since the beginning of time, one which Abel and Enoch obviously lived by.  

In the last article, we started looking at the historical figures of faith listed in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. The writer begins, literally, at the beginning with Cain and Abel and assures us that Abel’s faith speaks to us even today.

Faith has always been the mark of those who desire to live righteously. Men and women from the dawn of time have either had faith that God is the creator - that He alone brings order from chaos - and that He will keep His promises, or they haven’t. Belief isn’t the same as faith.

In the young adult class where I worship, we’ve been studying faith.  I’d like to share some of our conversations with you as we’ve focused this past month on Hebrews 11. 

This year, I’ve been trying to keep up with a weekly reading schedule that takes you through the Bible in a year. To be honest, some weeks I do better than others, but a recent week’s reading was the story of Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal in I Kings 18. It’s a great story - a familiar story.

Have you ever felt so far away from God that you just had no idea how to turn everything around?

I was recently told that the message of the Bible was not meant for the modern world.

As a teacher, I hear parents asking their children all sorts of questions…

Do you have your lunch? Did you do your homework? What were you thinking?

As a mother, I’ve asked all of those questions myself.

The questions of the day to day are just that…daily reminders, endearments, or reprimands.

A year ago today, I left Europe on emergency leave to go to my father’s bedside. It would be the last time I flew home to see him.

In the weeks that followed, there were many lasts. Last conversations, last words of comfort and gratitude, last touches, last hugs, and last looks…last moments, last prayers, and last breaths.

“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” (Matt 18:21).

Peter’s question makes so much sense to me. Wouldn’t life be easier if we could keep track of the offenses of others until, eventually, we could just write the person off altogether?

I’ve said for many years that although, of course, I know Jesus saves my soul, in many ways becoming a mother saved me, too.