Daily Devotions

⁸By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.  Hebrews 11:8-10

The two most significant Christian observances are Easter and Christmas.  Both fly in the face against any suggestion that God is content to stay “out there” or “up there” – whether referring to “up in heaven” or lodged deeply “in our hearts.”  Christianity is a very down to earth way of being in the world.

Faith, then, is far more than intellectual assent to theological propositions.  Faith is also very much a down to earth endeavor.  Faith does things in the world.  Faith motivates us, challenges us, encourages us – to act faithfully.  To BE people of faith rather than people content to talk about faith.

The writer of Hebrews, citing a long list of heroes of the faith, focuses on what they did, not simply what they thought.  Abraham WENT where he was SENT.  He followed a promise, the end of which he could not see, because he trusted the promise maker.

Yes, God’s gracious love comes freely to us.  We live in love.  We can’t escape God’s love.  But we can forget who we are and whose we are.  We can live, not by faith in God, but by idolatrous faith in deceptive promises that can never deliver what we believe they can. 

Let us pray:  Dear Lord, speak to us as we move throughout this day.  Help us see what drives us, what false gods we chase, the ways we can authentically respond to your love in our decisions, our actions, and our hopes.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

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