Zechariah 4, Hebrews 11

(Zechariah 4)

Verse 6: “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty”. How easy is it to forget that God’s leading is through His Spirit? I’ve heard all my life, out of sight, out of mind. We have to be very cautious not to live that way as believers. But even more so, that we change the way we perceive His Presence. Here’s what I mean: God’s Spirit and leading is everywhere. He is always at work. When we don’t see the Spirit, we’re not looking. When we do feel God’s leading, it’s not because He’s not there. Maybe it’s because we’re “not there”. Granted, there will be moments of trial and tribulation. Maybe we think of the story of Job. But under a new covenant through Christ, there is a new way in the Sprit. We are given the Spirit as counselor and guide. Our task is to learn to seek, hear, tune in, and follow God through the Spirit’s leading. And remember that, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Father, tune us in to your Spirit. Teach us what it feels like to pursue your presence. Help us to know and trust in that leading that we might honor you with our choices and pursuits. Counsel us as we move forward each day, that we might worship you through our steps.

(Hebrews 11)

Verse 1 and 2: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” The faith that the author of Hebrews is referring here is not just a belief that something is true. It’s not the same word used when we have “faith” a chair will hold us up when we sit on it. The word for that kind of faith is “peitho” which simply means “to rely by inward certainty”. In this verse, as we many times the word faith is used in scripture. It’s more than that. While “peitho” is still the root word in this case, the actual word used is “pistis”. This means more than just an inward certainty, it means “a moral conviction of religious truth, especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious truth itself

. Assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.” Wow. I gave the whole definition because it’s so great. It’s the whole thing. Not only a trust and hope in Christ for salvation, but also our system of religion manifest in our life personally and corporately.

This faith, Hebrews says, is the kind of thing the “ancients” where “commended” or “approved” for (depending on your translation) in verse 1-2. They had such faith in God’s Word and promise of Christ, that their whole existence was based on something yet to come. Now that’s faith!

In Hebrews 11 there is a huge list of people and stories of faith. Then it ends reminding us in verse 39: “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” Don’t misinterpret that closing statement, scripture is not saying they didn’t experience God’s personal promise fulfilled in their lives, they did see so many tangible and saw specific results directly answering those promises. What this is drawing light to is that the biggest promise of all, what all of scripture points to, the coming of Christ, had not yet happened. Also, that all their earthly accomplishments, scripture says, fulfilled nothing in the realm of salvation.

This is meant as a reminder and leading to us, those who HAVE seen that promise fulfilled, to be encouraged and to choose that our lives be changed because of that reality. It sets up what I believe to be one of the most significant chapters in the Bible on spiritual growth (chapter 12) as we respond to that truth. It starts with the word “Therefore…” We should never read chapter 12 without re-considering what chapter 11 says.

God, I’m so very thankful this morning that our Savior lives. I’m thankful that your promise was fulfilled and that all these earthly things will pass. There are so many tangible promises and leadings in my life that I believe will come to fruition, but to know they are so small and simple in regards to eternity, I am relieved and can rest in your security. You are God. I’m so glad I’m your child.