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29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace. 32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect. 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 11:29-12:2 NRSV)
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You are probably where you are because of your faith. I know I am. If you're not where you want to be, it may be that we need to ask the Lord for stronger faith to do more of what blesses Him and His. It was faith that made me believe that I could attend college and seminary even when the realities of the world said no. Faith is that conviction that says yes to what can be as you seek to be faithful to God. Look at the awesome passage from today: Faith said take that first step into the dry land of the Red Sea. It was faith that said yes, those walls can fall, and so Jericho fell. And a prostitute that believed she would not die with the others of Jericho; that was faith. The list is quite impressive: kingdoms conquered; justice received; promises fulfilled; hungry lions with closed mouths; raging fires quenched; people who should have died, but escaped the sword; grew strong instead of weaker; warriors instead of deserters; trained armies made to flee by volunteers of faith; widows and mothers reunited with their dead who were now resurrected. Others because of their faith, chose torture over release; some chose flogging and mockery, and even chains and imprisonment, over escape here to receive a better resurrection there with God. Some were stoned to death, others sawed in half, killed by the sword, some dressed in skins of sheep and goats and sent into the arenas of lions to meet their death; others were poor, suffered humiliation and torment; some wandered the world in desolate places like deserts, mountains, caves and holes in the ground; all received something way better that the world then nor now can truly understand.
These, the blessed of faith, and led by God, now serve as "witnesses" who laid aside the weight of doubt and fear, and walked freely and willingly towards the place where God wanted them, as should we. We, like they, look to Jesus, who is our pioneer and perfecter of our faith. He endured the cross and received His glory; we are set to join Him. In and by faith, of course.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, bless this reader as he or she seeks Your face and the place to which You are calling them. Guide us to walk freely and faithfully towards fruitfulness. This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Throw away the weight of fear and doubt today; help others as well.
Blessings of love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
