Day 1: The Substance of Faith

Understanding the Foundation

Bible Reading: Hebrews 11:1 - 3

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible

Reflection

Begin with certainty - Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of unseen realities. As we embark on this devotional journey, consider faith not as a fleeting wish but as the firm ground upon which all hope stands. It is easy to trust what we see, but faith calls us to trust in God who has promised, even when evidence is not yet within our grasp. The story of Abraham is instructive here; he believed God’s promise of a son despite his and Sarah’s advanced age, but the evidence was overwhelming against God’s promise. This wasn’t blind optimism but trust in God’s character and His words (Genesis 17:19).

Human trust often leans on visible resources like wealth, social networks, or abilities. However, these have limits and can fail. In 2 Kings 6, Elisha, though physically outnumbered, relied on God’s unseen resources when faced with a powerful army.

Let’s imagine for a moment: an architect envisions a grand building. He sketches plans and calculates structures, but the edifice doesn’t exist yet. Faith is like working off that blueprint, trusting that if we act according to God’s design, His plans for us will come through. When our actions and decisions are based on God's blueprints, we align with His purpose.

The consequence of our certainty is that we act on God’s promises, which are real even if not yet visible, over physical evidence. David is a great example. His absolute trust in God spurred him into action —as seen in how he faced Goliath not with a warrior’s Armor but with a slinger’s simple tools, his faith made substance through action (1 Samuel 17:45-50).

Recap

There’s a distinction between what's real (God’s reality) and what's visible (physical manifestations). Faith urges us to trust in the real over the seen.

Faith grounds our deepest hopes and manifests in actions aligned with God's assurances. It is a sure footing, elevating our gaze to behold the realities painted by God's word, even before they materialize. This then moves us to act. Find certainty in God’s words today; let it be the blueprint for your actions.