“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”. – James 5:13-16
LIGHT FOR NOW: The life of hope is part of the faith life in the Christian life.
The writer of Hebrews in chapter 12 has this to say; Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”. He had said earlier in chapter 11 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). God gave us faith; he gave us what is required to please him. Hebrews 10:20 “By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh”.
We have come before God; we cannot be in need of faith to please God. Hebrews 11 in explaining faith talks about hope. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. Faith there is expectation; faith works with hope. This interpretation is what differentiates “hope” in Hebrew 11 from a mere wish. Paul in talking about faith also mentions hope and love. He places the three in one group. 1Corinthians 13:13 “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity”. Hope is part of our spiritual life. God actually places hope in us. A life of expectation. In Christ, we have been given an expectation. Hence, hope is part of the faith life. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Always put your faith to work.
CONFESSION: I have the faith of God. I am expectant because when I ask in prayer, God gives, in Jesus Name, Amen
QUOTE: Hope is part of the faith life.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: HEBREWS CHAPTER 11; EVENING: HEBREWS CHAPTER 12
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 