Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (NIV) Two words here describe faith: sure and certain.
I also like the description of faith in the (CEB) translation: "Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don't see. The elders in the past were approved because they showed faith." - Hebrews 11:1-2
Hebrews 11 is often referred to as the "Faith Hall of Fame". The elders referred to in v. 2 are heroes of the old testament who are recognized for their faith beginning with Abel, Enoch, and Noah and running through the Patriarchs and Moses while also referencing some of the judges, prophets and King David.
This week I've been thinking a lot about faith as this verse was our memory verse and subject of this week's Sunday school lesson in my 3rd grade Expedition class. In preparation I remembered a recent devotion I read with my girls from Max Lucado's "Grace for the Moment: 365 Devotions for Kids" in which real but invisible things are used as an illustration of trusting in things our eyes can't see like: wind, electricity, peace, love, kindness.
Another thing on faith struck me this week when I took another spiritual gifts assessment. I love all kinds of assessments. Ever since I took the Myers-Briggs personality test many years ago (I'm ISTJ), I find it interesting to discover or even just reconfirm things I may or may not know about myself. This particular spiritual gifts assessment confirmed the gifts of knowledge, and teaching (emphasis on shepherding), as well as giving (emphasis on stewardship) and serving. But also, highlighted in my top 3 gifts was faith. Having the gift of faith is seeing God's plan and following it with passion. I really like that! And, I never really considered I had this gift of faith.
I believe God illuminated this truth to me as I was preparing to teach this lesson on faith to my 3rd graders. I also felt a renewed passion for using my gift of teaching as I was drawn to spend more time in prayer, preparation and reflection on this week's lesson. I also felt compelled to spend more time in journaling...and perhaps step up my blogging; we shall see...
P.S. I guess it's not a coincidence that we named our first daughter Taylor Faith.
