Thursday, July 2, 2020
Month Theme: Faith
Topic: The Paradox of Faith
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:1-40
Main Text:
Hebrews 11:1
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
A paradox is a statement that contradicts itself, or in other words, is absurd. Faith is a paradox – an absurdity or a contradiction. Hebrews 11:1 states that faith is a substance. “Substance” in the above scripture reference is the Greek word, hupostasis which means support, confidence, assurance and concrete essence. Faith therefore is the support, confidence, assurance and concrete essence of things hoped for – of the future. It is in the future, yet we believe we have it.
Faith is also the evidence of things not seen. “Evidence” is the Greek word, elegchos which means proof, conviction. Faith then is the proof of things we do not see. We do not see it, but we have the proof in our spirits. The amplified version of the Bible captures our scripture reference in an interesting way. It say, “NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].”
We must begin to walk in faith as children of God, especially in these times. Our confidence should not be in what the world offers. What the world sees and says should not be the evidence we depend on. The Hebrew young men physically saw Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace. Their deliverance was not in sight, but they had the evidence in their spirits that God is able to deliver them, and God indeed delivered them (Daniel 3:16-27). COVID-19 is not the evidence we have. Business challenges are not the evidence we have. Our evidence is the Word of God deposited in our spirits.
Prayer: Pray that your faith will not fail, in difficult times, including these times of COVID-19.
Recommended Reading:
"The Jubilee" by Eastwood Anaba
( Find e-books at www.amazon.com)
www.eastwoodanaba.com