30 By faith Jericho’s walls fell after the people marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith Rahab the prostitute wasn’t killed with the disobedient because she welcomed the spies in peace.
32 What more can I say? I would run out of time if I told you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 33 Through faith they conquered kingdoms, brought about justice, realized promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 put out raging fires, escaped from the edge of the sword, found strength in weakness, were mighty in war, and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured and refused to be released so they could gain a better resurrection.
36 But others experienced public shame by being taunted and whipped; they were even put in chains and in prison. 37 They were stoned to death, they were cut in two, and they died by being murdered with swords. They went around wearing the skins of sheep and goats, needy, oppressed, and mistreated. 38 The world didn’t deserve them. They wandered around in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the ground.
39 All these people didn’t receive what was promised, though they were given approval for their faith. 40 God provided something better for us so they wouldn’t be made perfect without us.
RG AUDIO 020815"Keep On Keeping On" by Author: Cindy Lowcock
During the months that preceded my recent retirement from ministry, I became confused by the intended kind remarks of people who congratulated me on my faithfulness. I understood that they were trying to be encouraging, but it never made sense to me as to why they would congratulate me for being faithful. Of course I was faithful. The God who called me into ministry is faithful, so it makes sense that my only response is to be faithful in return. Hebrews is a litany of Biblical characters; each one is commended for their faith. Abel offered a complete sacrifice, Abraham went to an unknown place, Noah built a boat in the desert. The faith of Abel, Abraham, and Noah was made clear by their action, not by their belief alone. Faith is not contingent upon a reward: it is a response of obedient trust in the One who calls us. We may be commended for our faith; however, our faith is not complete until we are made perfect with Him in eternity.
The Christian life is really quite simple. Be faithful.
Hymn for Today: "O Come, All Ye Faithful" by John F. Wade; translated by Frederick Oakeley and others
1. O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold him, born the King of angels;
Refrain:
O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
2. True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
lo, he shuns not the Virgin's womb;
Son of the Father, begotten not created;
Refrain:
O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
Refrain:
O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
4. See how the shepherds, summoned to his cradle,
leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
we too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;
Refrain:
O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
5. Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
we would embrace thee with love and awe.
Who would not love thee, loving us so dearly?
Refrain:
O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
6. Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus, to thee be all glory given.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
Refrain:
O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
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