Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)
Today’s Inspiring Thought: Faith Is the Key
This chapter, Hebrews 11, is often called the Hall of Faith. In it we read of all the great men of faith recorded in the Scriptures. Here we learn that faith is the key to pleasing God.
In the surrounding verses, the writer of the book of Hebrews shows that throughout history faith has been the key to the accomplishments and successes of all the Bible’s heroes. He describes some of the attributes of this God-pleasing, miracle-unlocking faith:
- Faith and confidence in the unseen are inseparably linked: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3, NIV)
- Faith is expressed in action: “ By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.” (Hebrews 11:4, NIV)
- Faith involves looking forward to heaven: “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:13-16, NIV)
We walk each day by faith, with confidence in what we cannot see yet, exercising our faith and looking forward to heaven. This is how we live in a way that pleases God.