Hebrews 11 Devotional #2: Help Our Un-Belonging
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith. – Hebrews 11:4-7 (NRSV)
Living God, you who measures our motives,
who bears us beyond death,
and who rouses us to redemptive action in the world;
Grant the gift of faith.
Let our knowing of you transcend knowledge—
opening into a way of being
deeply welcoming of your dwelling presence
with and within us.
Expectant of eternity, may we find you pleased.
Inspire in us fidelity and deepest allegiance to you.
Teach us to live in the tension between
courage and obedience—
boldness and surrender.
We believe. Help our unbelief.
We belong to you. Help our un-belonging.
Let our belief and our belonging
be received as righteousness.
Make us yours: heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Grant the gift of faith.
-Amen