God Promises to Reward Those Who Put their Faith in Him.

Suggested Reading: Hebrews 11:1-40

Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.—Hebrews 11:6

In the Bible we can read so many stories where victory, overcoming, blessing, and healing were accomplished through unshakable faith in God. The stories of those living long ago inspire us to keep the faith and press on in faith even while living in a world full of skeptics and rapidly spreading darkness. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews begins and ends with those who experienced the fulfillment of God’s promised reward in their life. All ending their earthly journey knowing heaven was awaiting them but also experiencing God’s blessing and rewarding of faith while still living on earth.

Abraham was a man full of faith and received the reward God promised, not only an heir, but offspring that would outnumber the sands o the seashore. Esther was woman of great faith, a Jew living in the palace of a Persian king, trusting her life and the lives of her people would be spared even as she approached the king without invitation; and it was. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, had impeccable faith, praying to God to open her womb so she could conceive a child, and he did.  David was a man of faith whom god used to rule his people, shepherd his flock Israel, and experience great victories over strong enemies. The woman Luke wrote about in his Gospel (Luke 13) had great faith as she visited the temple for eighteen years before Jesus healed her. Joseph, to whom Mary was betrothed was a man of great faith as he accepted what the angel of the Lord told him about the baby Mary was carrying in her womb and even at such a young age, Mary, the mother of our Lord was a woman with commendable faith as she gave herself fully to the Lord’s service and he rewarded her greatly for her faith. All of these and so many others were people displaying great faith. Whom would you add to the list? People you have read about, heard about, known personally? What about yourself? Has your own journey been such that your faith in what God is able to do and how he has rewarded you inspired others to put their faith in him as well? Do your stories of how God worked through faith to bring about victory, provide, protect, send divine intervention cause others to turn their life over to him also?

There is a reason God rewards our faith, not just with the promise of heaven after this life is over, but while we are alive; and that is because stories of reaping also gain souls for heaven and win others to Christ because they are shared out of sincerity and personal experience. When we hear or read the Word of God faith is sown into our heart. We can continue returning to those places that help plant, grow, and nurture our faith in God, or we can quickly turn away and reject the faith being sown within us. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what was seen was not made out of things that are visible (Hebrews 11:3). By faith we believe the miracles, wonders, blessings, and promises of God are manifested in our life and came from no where except God. by faith we keep pressing forward, keep persevering, keep hoping and trusting in God.

We can be encouraged to be people of great faith. We can toss all desires of being remembered for our extraordinary works or accomplishments on earth and determine to be people known for having extraordinary faith because that is where the real reward is. God has promised to reward those who put their faith in him, the promise of eternal life is ours but the blessing of a faith rewarded while we are still on earth is our as well. Let’s Pray

Lord of heaven and earth some people seek greatness through the things they do, to be known by the work they do, look forward to rewards bestowed upon them by earthly institutions and bask I the accolades of people but let us not concern ourselves with these things for they are temporary and matter not, instead, let us be concerned with and seek to be people of great faith for this is where the reward is. Lord may our faith never waiver nor its flame diminish but hold up under every strain and season of life. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen