Have Faith IN God
I was reading Hebrews 11 and I decided to reflect on it for a while. This chapter goes through the faith hall of fame so to speak. I was wondering why all these individuals managed to make it in this chapter. I think the most confusing verse for me was the first one about Abel. How by faith "he offered a better sacrifice that Cain did." It didn't make sense to me that it would take faith to offer a better sacrifice...which sort of implies that Cain did not have faith and maybe that's why his offering was not pleasing to God. In the study note section (Genesis 4:4), it says that Abel's sacrifice was offered in "sincere faith." I better understood Abel's membership in the hall of fame when I looked at verse 6:
"Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who diligently seek Him..."
Is it possible, that Abel knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that he was in the presence of an Almighty God...all powerful...A God to be revered and respected that's why he ended up choosing the best part of his lambs for God rather than Cain who just gave "some of" his vegetables? I mean Abel was a first generation earthling so to speak. His parents had walked with God. Perhaps he had heard stories...or God had spoken to him and he treasured that. He knew he had a maker that he should honor.
The next thing, I reflected on was all the other individuals. When this chapter commended the individuals for their faith, it seemed like everyone had had some sort of revelation. It was more of faith in God and His promises not just some irrational overly confident belief that God would do what they wanted. They believed God to do what was part of His plan.
Which took me to Mark 11:24..."Whatsoever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours..." I think it's easy to abuse this verse. I mean WHATSOEVER. But then James says in James 4:2-3.."you do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." The study notes in my bible concerning this verse state "God often refuses to grant petitions that proceed from evil desires. To pray with wrong motives is to pray without faith."
So what faith is Jesus referring to in Mark 11 when He talks about believing for what we have asked? In Mark 11:22, Jesus simply says "Have Faith IN God." That's it. Maybe that's what it's all about. Having faith in God to provide, having faith in God to be what He's called me to be, having faith IN God not IN systems, not in our deliverables...I dare say not in ourselves...
To know that God exists, to know that He is faithful to His word, to believe that what He has revealed to us about Himself and our lives...that is faith in God. How can we believe that God exists? How can we know what He has revealed so that we know what to hold on to? "Faith comes by hearing and by hearing the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
