Believe it or not

To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see. It was by their faith that people of ancient times won God’s approval.

It is by faith that we understand that the universe was created by God’s word, so that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen. (verses 1-3)

Read Hebrews 11:1-12

Some people will believe anything. Just listen to the rumours that go around. Just watch the X Files. Just examine some of the religions and cults which sometimes convince people to commit mass suicide or give all their money to weird leaders. At the other end of the scale there are the sceptics, who find it hard to believe in anything except what they can see, touch and understand with their own reason. Yet we all live by faith, trusting in things we cannot see, whether it be the theories of science or the forecasts of the weather presenter.

True Christian faith, however, is the most difficult, because it flies in the face of the world’s wisdom when it believes that God can be born as a baby, that he can come to us in words or water, bread and wine. Despite the suffering and pain of our lives, we also know that God has a plan and a happy ending for those who trust in him . Such faith is God’s greatest gift to us down through the ages.

Dear God, thank you for giving me my faith. Uphold me in it until it reaches its goal in my meeting you. Amen.

by Richard Hauser, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)

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