He Rewards Those Who Diligently Seek Him (Hebrews 11)

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Charles E. McCracken

What is so clearly articulated in the following texts is a central theme of Scripture. Faith is essential to pleasing God.

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.

HEBREWS 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.

HEBREWS 11:8-10
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith, he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city [Jerusalem], which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

JAMES 2:23
And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

Sea of Galilee with Tiberias in the distance viewed from Ramot Resort Hotel. Charles E. McCracken Archives © 2013

Dusk Descends on the Sea of Galilee with Tiberius in the distance as viewed from Ramot Resort Hotel

It was Abram who put God’s promise to the test! He acted on faith, left his father’s house and made the journey to Canaan entering the Promised Land near the Sea of Galilee.

So essential is faith that Abram’s was attributed to him as a righteous deed revealing what he couldn’t see with physical eyes. Faith also created the opportunity for a unique ongoing relationship with God that has spanned four millennia. Consequently Abram, the progenitor of all Jewish people, not only lived in the land, his descendants through Isaac and Jacob are thriving in Israel today.

Abram’s far-reaching step of faith was the drive for pursuing everything God’s three-fold promise assured (Gen 12:1-3). God rewarded him with a prosperous land, a vibrant nation and fame that will endure for all eternity.

IMAGE:
1) The Bible is the FOUNDATION for Life. (Used for illustrative purposes) (Photo credit: Pixabay/[Public domain]/Enhancement, MKM Portfolios)
2) Dusk Descends on the Sea of Galilee with Tiberius in the distance as viewed from Ramot Resort Hotel. (Photo Credit: Charles E. McCracken Archives © 2013)

Copyright © 2016 Charles E. McCracken, devotional comments only. Repost/Reprint with permission from the author. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.