Bible Studies

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The Letters
Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2 – “It Was by Faith”
Key Verses: (NCV)

• 29-31: “It was by faith…” – The writer to the Hebrews continues his lesson on faith by providing examples of faith in action.
  
  
• 32-38: “Do I need to give more examples?” – And more examples he gives of people and how their faith resulted in great things.
  
  
• 39-40: “All these people are known for their faith, but none of them received what God had promised. ⁴⁰God planned to give us something better so that they would be made perfect, but only together with us.” – Many times faith leads to suffering and we may never know the purpose of that suffering until we are sitting next to God in heaven.
  
  
• 12:1: “We have around us many people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back.” – We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.
  
  
• 2: “Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But He accepted the same as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before Him. And now He is sitting at the right side of God’s throne.” – The destination we all can expect.
  

Points to Contemplate:

• What have you accomplished by faith? As you read through the list of examples in these verses of people of faith and what they accomplished, do you wonder if your name could be added? Do you pray for God to use you in wonderful and amazing ways? Do you seek opportunities to demonstrate your faith? Can you step out into ministry with only God’s love and promises for support and guidance? When nothing makes sense rationally, are you still able to go where God is leading you? Are you able to set aside all the perfectly sound excuses you have created and step into the glory that God has in store?
  
  
• Are you aware of the “great cloud of witnesses” active in the world for God? Who are the people around you whose lives are examples of faith? Does it inspire you when you realize how many people in the world God is using for His purpose? Does it give you the strength and hope you need to carry on when all seems pointlessly hopeless? Do you recognize the importance of your contribution to the building of God’s kingdom? Do you accept that it takes the entire body of Christ working together to become complete and perfect in Him? Will you join the “great cloud of witnesses” and become one with Christ?
  
  
• Are you ready to run the race? What do you need to remove from your life that gets in the way of your faith? What hesitation or earthly concern is holding you back? What aspect of your life is getting in the way of where God is leading you? What sin needs to be handed over to God’s forgiving love? What hate, trouble-making, jealousy, anger, selfishness, strife, envy, drunkenness, or earthly idol (Gal 5: 19-21) do you need to eliminate in order that God can more fully use you for your kingdom?
  

Promises of the Gospel:

We are not alone in the world. There is a “great cloud of witnesses” throughout the world that is faithfully following where God is leading. Their faith inspires all of us to set aside our earthly concerns and worries. Their examples provide proof that our sins have been forgiven. Their love comforts and heals. Their view of God leads us into the body of Christ where we all, together, are made perfect by His love and His sacrifice for our sins. As we gaze upon the plan God has for our lives we may be unsure of where it is leading. We may not understand the pain and suffering we will endure. We may not be able to see the progress in the building of His kingdom that we envision or hope for. But faith will carry us through to His holy throne. Faith will help us to accept that God is control and all things are in His mighty hands. We are to set aside everything that is holding us back and join this mighty chorus knowing that God is with us every step of the way.

FUMC Devotionals

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