11 August 2013 - promised

11 August 2013 - promised

Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen. 

Today the readings are trying to help us realize what faith is and what it means for us.  We tend to think too abstractly about faith as  if it were some lofty condition of the soul.  But faith is actually a very practical thing, day to day.  Faith is trust in one who is worthy of trust.  When we have it we have courage

The night of the passover was known beforehand to our fathers,
that, with sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith,
they might have courage.

What does it mean to trust God?  What exactly is it that we are trusting.  We trust that his word is true.  We believe that what he says about who we are and where we come from is true.  And, importantly, we believe in his promises.

Your people awaited the salvation of the just

More specifically, the readings today are about the posture we should have with regard to the promises God makes that he does not yet fulfill.

All these died in faith. 
They did not receive what had been promised
but saw it and greeted it from afar

We are called to be attentive, actively waiting for the promises to be fulfilled.  This is how people who really believe in promises live.  To forget them and go our own way is to just give lip service to his promises.

“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. 

The promise we wait for is meant to give us peace and courage.  Without this promise we are dominated by fear.

Do not be afraid any longer, little flock,
for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. 

Without this promise there is no lasting place on which we can set our hope.  This is what it means to seek the city with foundations, since here we have no lasting city (cf. Heb. 14).

for he was looking forward to the city with foundations,
whose architect and maker is God. 

To actively trust his promises is what it means to hope.  When we hope in the LORD we are assured of his very personal care.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,

We must remember that the LORD holds us accountable for our response to this promise.

Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

He does so because he choses us to be his own people.  It is so important to him because of how much he wants to see his promises fulfilled in us.  We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  Let us put all our faith in him.