Saturday, October 19, 2013

Seeking a homeland

By faith Abel offered.

By faith Enoch was taken.

By faith Noah built.

By faith Abraham obeyed, and

by faith he sojourned in a foreign land.

By faith Sara received strength to conceive.

By faith Abraham offered up his only son.

By faith Moses was hidden,

refused his royal identity, 

chose to suffer with his people,

esteemed reproach for Christ better than the riches of Egypt,

forsook his home,

kept the Passover,

passed through the Red Sea.



By faith the God-seekers

subdued kingdoms,

worked righteousness,

obtained promises,

stopped the mouths of lions,

quenched fire,

escaped the edge of the sword,

out of weakness were made strong,

became valiant in battle,

turned armies to flight, 

were raised from death.




They were mocked, tried, scourged,

chained, imprisoned,

stoned, sawn in two, tempted,

slain with the sword. 

They wandered--

destitute, afflicted tormented--

of whom

the world 

was

not 

worthy.


They came to God, 

believing that HE IS.

They waited,

endured,

judged Him to be faithful,

accounted that He was able,

looked to the reward.



Though the promises were far off, 

they were sure of them.

They embraced the hope

of things not seen.

They became strangers and pilgrims on this earth.


They were seeking their homeland.


And they all had the chance

to turn back. 

But they chose

the city with foundations, 

whose builder and maker is

God.


And He is not ashamed

to be called their God.


They all died

without receiving the promises,

because they knew

God is preparing something 

better. 


They are waiting 

for us.




He wants to draw in

all His children

and make us one 

perfect

holy

family.


Will you join them?



*From Hebrews 11





Day 19 of Abide: 31 Days of Resting in Him

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