“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” Heb. 11:1-3
In these opening verses we see that faith is about creating new worlds where there seems to be no way, no means, no resources. Faith is what brings that which is alive in the heart into reality. In a short, fast moving, forty verses the chapter goes on to tell or reference the stories of sixteen men and women of faith, as well as the faith stories of a multitude of sojourners, holy women, prophets, and wanderers. The story then comes to a climax in chapter twelve, which is probably my favorite chapter in the Bible.
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lost heart.” Heb. 12:1-3
This is what it is all about – everything we do in mission – that we might “Fix our eyes on Jesus and Consider Him”.
Space will not permit me to tell the stories of each of the individuals spoken of in chapter eleven so I will illustrate our mission’s rubric of “Pray, Go, and Give”, by pointing to three of these inductees into the Hall of Faith. Abel, from whom we learn to give. Abraham, from who we learn to go. And Jacob, from whom we learn to pray.
Pray like Jacob
Let me begin with the last – Jacob.
Over and over again in the Scriptures we see Jacob being blessed by God and then turning around and blessing others through prayer. Isn’t this how it is, we are blessed and so we want others to share in that blessing? Jacob was so blessed he continues right up to the hour of his death praying blessings upon others.
“By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff.” Heb. 11:21
What a beautiful scene. Jacob is dying, but others are not praying for him; he is praying for them. We see him calling each of his grandchildren before him, one by one, to bless them. And when he is all done blessing others, he worships. Jacob blesses the one who had blessed him first. We see him worshipping while “leaning on his staff”. There is so much we could take from this image. The staff in scripture is a sign of both correction and care. It is a sign of judgment and blessings. Jacob leaning on his staff serves as a type, a prefiguring, of Christ on the Cross, bringing blessing and judgment to all.
We are called to be like Jacob, ever blessed by God and blessing others. We need people who will be Jacob to this mission. People who will rest on their staff – their care for the world – and pray for this mission and then worship God for all He has done and all He will do.
Go like Abraham
“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow-heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Heb. 11:8-10
Abraham was called out of the land of Ur. He had come to know God, the One, true God, but imperfectly. And so he traveled. He lived as an alien in a foreign land. He lived among strangers. Knowing the One true God, in a land of polytheistic belief, he could have remained in Ur living a contented and comfortable life. He could have even been spiritually smug, self-righteous, having discovered the truth while all his neighbors lived in error. But he was obedient to the call. He went out and found God in a new and more perfect way.
This is the story of our missioners. We hear the call of God to go, to leave contentment and comfort behind. We go out to serve, to share the message of Christ in action and word. We dwell among strangers where so much seems alien to us. And then we ourselves discover God in great new ways. We discover God in a new city, a city composed of our fellow missioners and the very poor we sought to serve.
We need people to be Abraham with this mission. We need people who will go with us into strange lands, who will dwell in tents and wake up in the morning to discover a glorious city, a new life in a new community built and centered in the loving actions of Christ for the poorest of the poor.
Give Like Abel
“By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith though he is dead, he still speaks.” Heb. 11:4
We all know the story of Cain and Abel. How both presented offerings to God. Cain presented a portion of his harvest of grain. Abel slew and sacrificed a lamb. God accepted Abel’s offering, but rejected Cain’s. Cain then in jealousy slew Abel.
This is controversial passage with different interpretations. Why would God accept a slain animal over grain? Many scholars say it was not the character of the gift that was rejected but the character of the giver. God was looking at the heart in which the gift was given. Cain gave from that which he could easily replenish, grain in the field which though harvested grows back, there is no loss, while Abel diminished his flock, there was no thought of restoring what he would lose in his gift.
But there’s much more. Cain thought God was looking for a payment, a tribute. He saw God as distant and demanding. He calculated, therefore, what the minimal amount would be to legally satisfy this deity. Abel, however, understood something about the gracious and generous character of God and so gave a gift that represented his understanding of and gratitude for God’s Grace. And like the image of Christ who rose from the dead and speaks to us, Abel, though slain, because of his faith and the sacrifice he made, speaks to us down through the millennium. His sacrificial faith giving continues to bring faith and life.
The Partnership in Mission needs people who understand this kind of faith giving, people who, knowing the generosity and grace of God, give in such a manner that their giving will speak and keep on speaking. We need people who will give sacrificially and joyfully to bring and keep on bringing faith and life to others. It is often said that you should give as you are able. Instead we look for people who will give to the missions not simply as they are able but as though they are Abel.
My brothers and sisters, pray like Jacob. Be a blessing. Go like Abraham, discover God more perfectly in the face of the poor. Give like Abel. May your sacrifice of faith, like Abel’s, continue to speak long after each of us has passed.
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