Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Here are three more verbs found in Hebrews 11 that illustrate for us the active nature of genuine faith.
Faith Longs
“They were longing for a better country—a heavenly one” (11:16). Faith is a forward-looking grace. It will help you to keep your mind fixed on things above, on the things of heaven.
Faith Blesses
“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future” (11:20). What a blessing it is to have a mother who is a woman of faith. What a blessing to have a father who is a man of faith. Faith leaves a legacy. It brings blessing to all whom God places around you.
Faith Worships
“By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff” (11:21). Faith will lead you to worship. Here is this old man at the end of his life. He is dying, but he looks up to God and he worships.
Faith is more than bare belief. It’s like a living tree bursting with fruit.
Why does faith do all these things? Where does all this life and energy come from? Why do you think faith understands and offers and builds and obeys and longs and blesses and worships?