Word for the day Christian Education Forum

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 CHRIST WHO GIVES HOPEFUL VISION

  HEBREWS 11:1-12
 VS  1:  Now faith is the assurance of the things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Faith involves assurance, conviction and hope concerning things not seen or visible. Faith is acting in obedience even when we don’t know understand what God is asking of us.  This is the kind of faith Noah had, Abraham Had, Enoch had, and God wants us to have the same hope and faith. What God is asking us to do at times may seem unusual and impossible but if we condition ourselves to obey God and execute His commands, we will be surprised how we will be blessed. Just as vision is one of the five physical senses that gives us evidence of the world we live in, faith is the sense that gives us confidence in the unseen spiritual world. Christ gives us hope to live in this world which is filled with miseries, stress and conflicts. When we go to sleep at night, we have the great hope we will wake up next day morning. We trust that sun will shine every day and winter will give way to spring. We have the hope that our struggles in this world are transient and will go away when our Lord comes back, and we will be taken away to live with Him forever. We have the hope, and we are earnestly looking forward to that eternal bliss of lifestyle where there is no sickness nor diseases and we can live with the Lord, that is the hope that every born-again Christian has and that is the hopeful vision that Christ gives us. When we have faith in God means we have experienced His mercy and miraculous guidance in our lives in our past and that is the basis for us to go forward.
Today’s portion for devotion emphasize on faith as well as the Christian hope. Hebrews chapter 11 is known as the Hall of faith and lists all the giants of faith that lived before us. Faith guided Abraham to journey with God . He stepped out in faith and travelled to new land that God had promised him. Difficulties in life do not indicate any lack of faith but a true Christian can find happiness and rejoice in the sufferings. Romans 5:3-4 reads suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character and character hope. True faith therefore is confident obedience to God and His commandments in spite of circumstances.
What God is asking us today is to trust Him and obey. Learn to do what He asks us to do, and we can see blessings unfolding day by day. Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of life and let us thank him for giving the precious faith and hope as with those souls who had left us and now live in glory.

Prayer

  Dear Lord we pray and plead to increase our faith and trust in you so that we have the right vision of life that you promise. Be our guide, comforter and counselor as we journey to the beautiful home you have prepared for us . Amen

                                  Thought for the Day

A Christian without the Hope that Christ gives is like an empty vessel suited for no use.

Dr Thomas K. Jose  - The Mar Thoma Church Staten island.  

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