Scripture:

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. -- Hebrew 11:1-2

Reflection:

I believe in something I cannot see, smell, hear, taste or touch, a strange manifestation for our high tech society. Despite the obliqueness of this statement, the Bible informs that faith is assurance. We are confident about many things that now do not exist. Faith is beyond knowledge. The excitement of going to a place for the first time and upon arrival learning that it was just as expected and more, possibly disappointment. The Old Testament patriot Joseph lived by faith. His faith preserved him in a pit. His faith supported him in slavery. His faith kept him focused when imprisoned because he fled fornication. Joseph’s faith restrained his option of exacting revenge on his brothers. He stated, “You did not send me here but GOD” (Genesis 45:8). Joseph’s faith took him from a hole in the earth to the whole of Egypt.

Howard Thurman states, “The assurances of faith are many.” Three assurances of faith are presented for inspiration. The first is faith in God. When the labors of living are beyond control, yield to the assurance of The Holy God. God is a Spirit and yielding to God is a spiritual event. The second assurance of faith is faith in the “self.” The self is capable of attaining whatever it believes. The reason the self has this capability is the self is in the image of God. The strength and limit of self is the God-like quality. The third and final for this inspirational devotion is the “other.” Wherever there is one, there is/was/will be another, everyone is connected. God, self and other make life sweet and wholesome, or bitter and detestable. God, self and other is the pyramid of human existence. Faith in these three produces the vast wealth of life.

Jesus taught a parable about the need to sow good seeds. The evil will sow evil seeds. Sow good seeds and, when the harvest comes, the harvester will divide the good from the evil.

Prayer:

God most Holy; let faith guide me to give my best to You and humanity through my daily living. Receive my prayer with Your love through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.