LIFE Posts - Faith on the path
Last week we examined hope and the importance of hope in the Lord as we go through life. This week we continue by examining hope’s partner – faith. We start by revisiting the opening scripture from last week.
Hebrews 11:1 (NASB95) 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. [1]
Again, the Greek root translated as “faith” is pistis, which means “to believe to the extent of complete trust and reliance—‘to believe in, to have confidence in, to have faith in, to trust, faith, trust.’”[2] As we noted last week, we need to be careful as we apply faith and hope by ensuring Who we’re trusting in is God. It is easy in the fallen world to get crossed up and look to the wrong things as evidence of faith being rewarded and confirmed.
Our first priority should always be God; other desires are always to follow behind. God’s Word defines what our life should look like, which is being progressively transformed more like Jesus. Does this mean we should all wear sackcloth, sell all our possessions, and move to a foreign land to be itinerant missionaries? No. God calls us to be transformed by being conformed to His image and His purpose for us. There is no “one-size-fits-all” answer to His specific purpose and walk for us. He has created us all uniquely in His image, which causes some people to wonder why they are different from others, or from what the world considers common or normal. Scholars note that God is so vast that it is a logical outcome that people – who are mortal, very finite beings – will manifest only a fraction of God’s image. Though we are created in His image, we individually do not capture the fullness of His image.
As we align ourselves to His Will, and understanding our uniqueness, we move forward in our pursuit of Him. Here, the rest of Hebrews chapter 11 is illuminating and motivating. In Hebrews 11:6 the author says:
Hebrews 11:6 (AMP2015) 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him. [3]
At first glance, a superficial reading of this verse would seem to indicate that God is more judge than loving Father, evaluating each individual for an “A+” score of faith and effort before moving on their behalf. Going through the rest of Hebrews 11, we see the “hall of faith” examples of individuals in the Old Testament who were considered to be of exemplary faith. When we look at their full stories in the Old Testament, we understand more about God's perspective.
In Hebrews 11:8-19 Abraham and Sarah are both discussed, so for brevity’s sake we’ll focus on them. This scripture mentions the following “by faith” items credited to Abraham or Sarah:
- Abraham’s willingness to obey God’s call to leave his homeland, without knowing where he was going.
- Abraham’s living in tents in a foreign land, without having an established earthly fixed home. He is credited as looking to live in a city made by God – not man.
- Sarah’s faith was listed as enabling her to conceive well after normal childbearing age, because she considered God’s faithfulness to deliver His promise greater than an earthly understanding or limitation.
- Sarah and Abraham’s faith were listed as having been used to deliver the promise of innumerable descendants.
- Abraham’s faith was described as so strong that he was willing to give up his promised son Isaac – both out of obedience to God as well as having faith that God could raise even the dead.
We absolutely see miraculous outcomes of Abraham and Sarah’s faith! They believed God was able and faithful to keep His promises to them; they believed that His Ways were above their ways. This faith propelled them to live in foreign lands, believe and receive a son in old age, and finally see God provide unexpected grace and blessing in response to Abraham’s prioritizing God over even his beloved son Isaac. The Bible calls Abraham God’s friend for his faith.
It is also important to note what we don’t see listed in Hebrews 11; specifically, the times where Abraham and Sarah’s faith faltered. In the midst of faithfully living in foreign lands, on two separate occasions Abraham lied about Sarah – telling the Pharoah of Egypt and later King Abimelech of Gerar that Sarah was his sister instead of his wife, for fear of them killing him to take her for their own. Sarah’s early response to hearing the promise that she would bear a child in her old age was to laugh at it (Genesis 18:1-15). Yet she would turn to believe in that promise. But during the waiting for their promised child, Sarah grew impatient. She told Abraham that he should sleep with her servant Hagar and produce a child that way. The child produced was not the promised one and to keep it simple, we can say that this resulted in a lot of trouble for Israel down the line.
God’s Grace covered Abraham and Sarah – during their lives as well as during the writing of Hebrews. Their sin isn’t what was brought up in Hebrews 11, but instead what is remembered is their faith. Another lesson for us is to recognize that on the narrow path, it is easy to stray from faithful confidence in God and His promises to a demanding and entitled type of attitude. Said differently, there is a difference between a faithful expectation and a demanding expectation.
Faithful expectation places complete trust in God; submitting to Him and the truth that His ways are above our ways. Faithful expectation brings its desire to the Lord but understands that His response is for our best – even if that means His answer isn’t what we want or expect. Abraham demonstrated this when asked to sacrifice his son Isaac. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego also demonstrated this in the Book of Daniel.
Daniel 3:16–18 (NASB 2020) 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we are not in need of an answer to give you concerning this matter. 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. 3:18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.” [4]
Faced with the choice to obey the command to worship the golden statue set up by king Nebuchadnezzar or be tossed into a fiery furnace, these young men chose to worship God alone. Their response to the king acknowledged that they didn’t know how God would respond in their immediate trial, but regardless of the outcome they weren’t going to lose faith that God is above all. In Matthew 26:39 and Matthew 26:42, Jesus twice brought and acknowledged His desire for the cup of His crucifixion to be taken away, and each time also submitted to the Father – “Your Will be done.”
In these two examples, we see the two possible outcomes. In the first example God delivered the men from the fiery furnace; in the second, Jesus had to walk through the crucifixion in order for God’s Plan to come to fruition. Faithful expectation understands that there are times God's answers will meet our desires, and other times where they will not. It asks, hopes, and believes - but does not place selfish desire over God’s sovereignty.
Demanding expectation, however, does the opposite – it places self over God. We often don’t recognize demanding expectation for what it is - sin. We can rapidly go from a faithful expectation to a demanding one if our focus shifts from God to the request itself. Emotions can rise up, and in those emotionally charged moments, by choosing to walk by the Holy Spirit we can maintain our focus on God. It isn’t hard to believe that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego had some emotions rise up when they saw the flames being lit and the furnace heat turned up 7 times hotter than normal! Nor is it hard to imagine that they thought their deliverance would come differently – perhaps that they wouldn’t be thrown in the furnace to start out with.
We’re not told when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego saw the “fourth man” in the fire, nor are we given a specific answer as to who he was. Some have theorized that this was a manifestation of Jesus, while more commonly the fourth person is understood to have been an angel sent by God. Either way, these men were rescued by God while being thrown into the fire. They were delivered out of the fire without being burned up or even smelling like they’d been in a fire (Daniel 3:27). Another key point to realize is that they were bound up before being throw in the fire (Daniel 3:20-21), but while in the fire they were freed from those bonds!
We too, are freed from the bonds placed on us as we faithfully follow God and His Holy Spirit on our walk of sanctification in this life. Whatever it is we are believing for – as we submit our desires to Him, believe in His Word as true, and expect for His movement in every situation – we will find ourselves more free, and at peace. Hope integrated with this faith energizes our walk of ongoing sanctification on the narrow path that leads to life.
Application/Questions/Journal your thoughts
- We may not be tossed into a literal fiery furnace, but the trials and tribulations we do walk through can feel like it at times. As we go through the process of sanctification, our faith will be tested. What areas of your faith are being stretched or tested now? How can you apply the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to your current challenge? Who is the “Nebuchadnezzar” that needs to hear your declaration of faithful expectation and submission to God?
- Again, looking to the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, we see that they were freed from being bound (tied up) while in the fiery furnace. When we focus on God and seek Him, His Will, and His Strength during our trials, we too can find ourselves freed of bondages. Ask the Holy Spirit for understanding of things He has perhaps freed you from in the past during a trial, or what He desires for you to be freed of in your current challenges.
Scripture of the week
Habakkuk 3:17–19 (AMP2015) 3:17 Though the fig tree does not blossom And there is no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive fails And the fields produce no food, Though the flock is cut off from the fold And there are no cattle in the stalls, 3:18 Yet I will [choose to] rejoice in the Lord; I will [choose to] shout in exultation in the [victorious] God of my salvation! [Rom 8:37] 3:19 The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army]; He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet And makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my high places [of challenge and responsibility]. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments. [5]
John 6:38 (AMP2015) 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me. [6]
1 John 5:14–15 (AMP2015) 5:14 This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us. 5:15 And if we know [for a fact, as indeed we do] that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him. [7]
1 Peter 1:6–9 (AMP2015) 1:6 In this you rejoice greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 1:7 so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested and purified by fire, may be found to result in [your] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1:8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy, 1:9 receiving as the result [the outcome, the consummation] of your faith, the salvation of your souls. [8]
Romans 10:17 (NET 2nd ed.) 10:17 Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ. [9]
Weekly prayer
Dear Jesus,
I praise You Lord, for Your steadfast Love for me! Thank You for giving me the faith to believe and trust in You. I believe Lord, help me shed any unbelief that still resides within me. May I follow Your example Jesus – accepting Your Will over my own, while continuing to bring You every request. I love You Lord, may I be used by You to bring glory to Your Name. Amen.
Freedom Facet
Walking the narrow path of sanctification means understanding faith not as passive submission, but as active trust in God’s working and Will, which sustains our ongoing transformation. Hope and faith form an inseparable partnership on this narrow path of sanctification, with hope functioning as a motivating force that drives believers toward holiness. This union proves essential for perseverance on the narrow path. Without hope anchoring faith to future transformation, sanctification becomes just dutiful self-effort, which ignores relationship with the Holy Spirit. But when we grasp that our present struggles serve a future glory, faith becomes energized; we endure not through willpower alone but through confident expectation of what God will accomplish. Expectant faith in God will see us through the hard times, and preserve our pursuit of Him in the easier times.
Jesus's Freedom is for those who call Him Lord - those who believe in Him. If you’ve not yet accepted Christ Jesus as Your Lord, and would like to, say the following prayer aloud.
Lord Jesus, I confess and realize that I am a sinner, and without You, I am lost and separated from God. Thank You for going to the cross and dying for my sins – I ask for Your forgiveness for my sins, and I thank you and receive the forgiveness of my sins Your Word says is now mine! Holy Spirit, I thank You that You now reside within me. I lay down my will for Yours and ask for Your daily guidance and direction to make me more and more like You. Amen!
The Bible tells us that if we confess Jesus as Lord with our mouth and believe in our hearts that God resurrected Jesus from the dead, we are saved for eternity. If you’ve just accepted Jesus as Lord, know that heaven is celebrating right now (Luke 15:10)! Rejoice because you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and now have begun the process of sanctification becoming like Him. Keep coming back, as we explore Freedom facets and what our Identity in Christ truly is. Share this joyous news with a brother or sister in Christ and get connected in your local church! LIFE is yours!
Small Group Invitations - Week of July 19, 2026
Below are invitations to just a couple of Men's Small Groups that are happening this week, both a part of Celebration Church, Georgetown, Texas. If these don't work for you, or if you're not a Celebration Church, TX attendee - regardless of the church you attend - being a part of small group is immensely important! If you're not involved in one, I pray that you find one that works for your schedule and you get plugged in. Being connected in the local church will bless you immeasurably!
Tuesday Morning Men's Fellowship Group: 6am - 7am at Rudy's BBQ in Round Rock, Texas. Join us for a time of fellowship where we'll discuss the message from the Pastors on Sunday, the newsletter contents, or whatever is going on in the lives of the brothers meeting.
Friday Morning Celebration Men: This week we're back at the Celebration Church Annex. Join us at 6:30 am for coffee, breakfast tacos, fellowship and discussion about God's Word. We'll conclude at 8am so people can get to work.
[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[2] Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. 1996. In Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains, electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., 1:375. New York: United Bible Societies.
[3] Amplified Bible | 2015 (AMP). 2015. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[4] New American Standard Bible. 2020. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[5] Amplified Bible | 2015 (AMP). 2015. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[6] Amplified Bible | 2015 (AMP). 2015. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[7] Amplified Bible | 2015 (AMP). 2015. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[8] Amplified Bible | 2015 (AMP). 2015. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[9] Biblical Studies Press. 2019. The NET Bible. Second Edition. Denmark: Thomas Nelson.