Pam's Perambulation

²⁹ Because of their faith, the people walked through the Red Sea on dry land. But when the Egyptians tried to do it, they were drowned.

³⁰ God’s people had faith, and when they had walked around the city of Jericho for seven days, its walls fell down.

³¹ Rahab had been a prostitute, but she had faith and welcomed the spies. So she wasn’t killed with the people who disobeyed.

³² What else can I say? There isn’t enough time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. ³³ Their faith helped them conquer kingdoms, and because they did right, God made promises to them. They closed the jaws of lions ³⁴ and put out raging fires and escaped from the swords of their enemies. Although they were weak, they were given the strength and power to chase foreign armies away.

³⁵ Some women received their loved ones back from death. Many of these people were tortured, but they refused to be released. They were sure that they would get a better reward when the dead are raised to life. ³⁶ Others were made fun of and beaten with whips, and some were chained in jail. ³⁷ Still others were stoned to death or sawed in two or killed with swords. Some had nothing but sheep skins or goat skins to wear. They were poor, mistreated, and tortured. ³⁸ The world did not deserve these good people, who had to wander in deserts and on mountains and had to live in caves and holes in the ground.

³⁹ All of them pleased God because of their faith! But still they died without being given what had been promised. ⁴⁰ This was because God had something better in store for us. And he did not want them to reach the goal of their faith without us.

A Large Crowd of Witnesses

12 Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. ² We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God’s throne!

This passage also reminds us that having faith does not always make for an easy life, or that things will go, what may be termed “well”.  It doesn’t say, “Have faith and breeze through life”, it reminds us that even the most faithful had their trials.

That is a comfort.  It’s not just me, something I’ve done, or not done;  I’m not being singled out for a hard time; I’m not being “got at”.  That is how life, until God returns in all his glory, is.  Faith may help us live with life, it doesn’t get rid of the difficult parts.  And if we feel we are suffering, despite our faith, we are in good company.

Lord,
I don’t understand
why,
however faithful people seem,
despite the good things they do,
life still throws up it’s difficulties.

But I thank you,
that it is not because of anything
we have,
or haven’t,
done wrong,
but human life
in all it’s facets.

Thank you especially
for your promise
that you have something better in store.

I pray
for the time when that will be,
when suffering, hardship and pain
will be gone
and what you have in store for us all
will be here

Can I have the same song again?  I can can’t I, it’s my blog.  This really is the most awesome, beautiful, helpful and truthful song.  It means so much to me and has kept me going on some of the worst days.  God promises are not imagined, they are real and will be realised one day, way beyond our expectations.  To be able to trace the rainbow through the rain… Read it’s story here

~ by pamjw on August 14, 2013.

Posted in bible, faith, God, Lectionary, life, Religion, theology
Tags: faith, God, Hebrews 11:29-12:2, life, O love that will not let me go, promise