31 May June 17 – Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

FAITH  

Hebrews 11:1-2 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.”

One of the scariest carnival rides on the midway is the one where you are in a circle with a wire mess behind you, a floor underneath you, and a small place in which you are told to stand.  A motor rev’s up, the ride begins to spin, first slowly but with ever increasing speed.  Once the ride is circling at maximum rpm’s, the floor drops out below you.  The screams of the riders say it all. . . everyone is frightened to death.

Most who ride this ride have ridden it before.  They know the floor will drop away, but they have faith that they will be safe.  Their faith is based upon what they have experienced in the past, the fact they watched the previous group of riders safely enter and exit the ride, or perhaps a few know the scientific formula (F = m v² / r) and can calculate whether they will be safe or not.

When it comes to your faith in Jesus, there is no formula or equation you can use.  Your faith, your confidence, your reliance that Yahweh will forgive your sins and on the last day Jesus will judge you righteous and place you on His right is based upon God’s word and promise given to you in His Gospel and is the basis of your sure and certain assurance that you will spend eternity in heaven.  Your faith is His gift to you!

You have the testimony of the Apostle’s who were eyewitnesses to seeing Jesus transfigured in all of His holy glory.  You have their testimony that Yahweh said of Jesus, “This is my beloved Son. . .”  (Matthew 3:17, Luke 9:35) You have the words of Old Testament prophets fulfilled by Jesus during His earthly life.  And, You have the personal testimony of God the Holy Spirit who has confirmed in Your heart through the gift of faith that Jesus is your Lord and Savior.  He has given you the faith to confess this with your mouth and believe it in your heart.  And, you have the promise of God’s Word, “If you believe God raised Him from the dead you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, fill me with faith to believe and trust in Jesus for my forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation. Amen.

O Savior, precious Savior, Whom yet unseen we love;

O name of might and favor, All other names above,

We worship Thee, we bless thee, To Thee, O Christ we sing;

We praise Thee and confess Thee, Our holy Lord and King.

O bringer of salvation, Who wondrously hast wrought

Thyself the revelation Of love beyond our thought,

We worship Thee, we bless Thee, To Thee, O Christ, we sing;

We praise Thee and confess Thee, Our gracious Lord and King.

To Thee all fullness dwelleth, All grace and pow’r divine;

The glory that excelleth, O Son of God, is Thine.

We worship Thee, we bless Thee, To Thee, O Christ, we sing;

We praise Thee and confess Thee, Our glorious Lord and King.

O grant the consummation Of this our song above

In endless adoration And everlasting love;

Then shall we praise and bless Thee Where perfect praises ring,

And evermore confess Thee, Our Savior and our King!

(LSB 527)