December 23 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Hebrews 11:1-16:

¹Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
²For by it the elders obtained a good report.
³Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
⁴By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
⁵By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
⁶But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
⁷By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
⁸By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
⁹By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
¹⁰For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
¹¹Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
¹²Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
¹³These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
¹⁴For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
¹⁵And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
¹⁶But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Devotional

Salvation is a matter of faith. We are saved by faith, not by our own good works. "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." We are so prone to trust in our own self-righteousness. But even our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin, and cannot stand before the judgment seat of God. "Without faith it is impossible to please God."

"But what is true faith? It is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in his Word; but also a hearty trust, which the Holy Ghost works in me by the Gospel, that not only to others, but to me also, forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness and salvation, are freely given by God, merely of grace, for the sake of Christ's merits" Heidelberg Catechism 21. And we must believe all that is promised us in the Gospel. We must first have certain knowledge of the truth, and then we must believe and trust. Hence we must search the Scriptures. And as we study the Word of God, and the gospel is preached to us, the Holy Ghost works faith in our hearts. We believe. And then we must confess our faith. "For with the heart man beieveth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Prayer

Our Father, we thank Thee for the promise: Ask and it shall be given you. Help us to ask in faith, nothing waver­ing, but firmly believing, that we have the petition that we desire of Thee. Increase our faith. And help us to be resigned unto Thy holy will. And thus walking by faith, may we steadfastly look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Help us to fight the good fight of faith, and come out more than conquerors through him who loved us and gave himself for us. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Eph. 2:8, 9; Heb. 11:6; Acts 17:11; Rom. 10:10.

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