In this Prayer challenge I am going to work through chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews in the New Testament of the Christian Scriptures. I am excited to take this challenge with you, and hope it blesses us both.
Scripture for Today:
Read Hebrews 11:4
“By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.”
If you have time to read all of chapter 10 and 11. Then go for it.
Read Genesis 3 and 4
Thoughts to Ponder for Today:
As I read these passages. I found it important to remind myself of what happened in Genesis chapter three. The story of Adam and Eve, a deceiver, sin, and a promise. I realized that the story of Abel would be of no importance if we didn’t first know the story of sin and separation from God. I encourage you to take time to ponder on this story, and praise God for His incredible love, forgiveness, and promise of redemption and restoration.
Now, let’s take a look at Abel’s faith story. Abel knew God’s standard for an acceptable sacrifice. The Bible does not tell us who taught him the standard. Maybe his parents, but certainly God made it clear to both Cain and Abel what His expectation was. Knowing the expectation isn’t enough. It was a testimony of righteousness when Abel took action and DID as God expected. Abel’s testimony of faith in action is still being told today. Even though Abel was persecuted and killed by the hand of his own brother, His death was not the end for him or his faith testimony.
My greatest hope is after I am long gone from this earth, my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will know of my obedience to God and the testimony of my faith walk. I want to do what is right (righteous) no matter what my brother is doing, even if I am persecuted unto death. Today, I choose to believe and OBEY.
Prayer for Today:
As you consider what true faith is, and consider if you truly have faith in an Almighty God, who is so Holy, that He must set a standard for His children to obey, consider if you truly believe the story of Adam, Eve, the serpent, Cain and Abel, and the promised Redeemer. Ask God to reveal Himself to you today. Ask Him to help you walk in faithful obedience like Abel, and to give you a testimony of obedience.
Father God, You have given us your Word that teaches us Your Standard. Help us to live according to that standard regardless if anyone else around us accepts it. Give us the strength and courage to offer you a better sacrifice, with our lives daily. Help us to love you more than we fear men. Your Son told us in Matthew 10 not to fear man, so help us to do that. May we be like Abel and have a testimony of faith that lives even when we die. Your will be done.
Amen
Shalom
Hebrews 11
Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. For by this, the elders obtained testimony. By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.
By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
By faith, Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God. Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised. Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son, to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,” concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.
By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. By faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up. By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.
By faith, Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
These all, having had testimony given to them through their faith, didn’t receive the promise, God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
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