Godly Heroes Look to Jesus: Heroes of Faith
Monday, January 6, 2020
Living Free Every Day®
A ministry of LivingFree.org
Today's Scripture
"And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
Thoughts for Today
Hebrews 11 is often referred to as the Heroes of Faith or the Saints' Hall of Fame. The passage speaks of several godly heroes who lived faithful lives no matter what direction life took them. Understanding the characteristics exemplified by each of these heroes can serve as a model for us. As believers, we represent Christ. Since people are looking at our lives, let us seek to be a godly hero.
Four characteristics are common to all the heroes in the Hall of Fame:
- They were people of faith.
- They were commended by God.
- They believed in creationism.
- This world was not worthy of them.
Consider this …
Hebrews 12 goes on to describe the Christian race we are running. To be in this race, one must receive Jesus Christ as Savior. This race is not a short 100-yard dash. It is a marathon with hills and valleys, and it calls for endurance.
Picture a stadium or amphitheater filled with the Old Testament godly heroes of Hebrews 11 as the spectators. These godly heroes are witnessing the New Testament saints' race of faith. The lives of these Old Testament heroes set such an example for us . . . and now they are onlookers, cheering us on. These great witnesses bear testimony to us that we too can overcome the hurdles of this life and be victorious.
What is the key to this victory? Today's scripture makes it clear. Keeping our eyes on Jesus.
Prayer
Father, thank you so much for the encouraging lives of the godly heroes. No matter what circumstances surrounded them, they kept their eyes on the Lord. They understood the promised Messiah was coming and they kept their faith in Him. Help me not to be distracted when the challenges of life seem overwhelming. Help me fix my eyes on Jesus. His strength. His love. His way. In his name I pray ...
These thoughts were drawn from … Godly Heroes: A Small Group Study of Hebrews 11 by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This guide presents a step-by-step study of Hebrews 11. It also features the profile of the characteristics of Godly heroes, written in language that relates to today's living. In this guide you will find definitions, characteristics and examples of the heroes' faith life. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
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