By Faith These All, Again

For the past few months, I’ve been editing and reposting a series of posts on Hebrews 11 from my old blog. This post, the eighteenth one, concludes the series. You’ll find all the other posts listed in the sidebar, or you can look here.

The writer of Hebrews has completed his list of faithful people of old, and he finishes this chapter with a summary statement.

And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us. (Hebrews 11:39,40; NET)

Everyone on this list, he says, was commended for their faith. The chapter starts by telling us  that the people of old received God’s commendation by faith, and now it concludes in the same way.

All the listed faithful ancients were commended for their faith, and as a result they received many blessings and had many promises fulfilled; yet, the writer tells us, there was something held back from them. There was something promised to them that they did not receive, and that they could not receive it without us. This final blessing, the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise, our being made perfect, comes to all saints together.

What is this better thing that God has provided for us? The next step in the fulfillment of God’s promises  and the centerpiece of the book of Hebrews is the saving work of Christ. The people of old anticipated it and we look back on it. Our perfection, in one sense, has already been worked through what Christ has done.

But still we wait, like they waited, for the final fulfillment of God’s promises in Christ’s return and the fullness of the kingdom. We continue to live by faith like those who’ve gone before us. We can grow tired in the difficulties of this life, just as they must have, but we have their testimonies as examples to to encourage us to stand firm in our faith. They hadn’t seen, yet they trusted; and they spur us on to keep trusting in what we’ve not seen. We can pattern our lives after them.

Round the Sphere Again: Quiz

Today’s collection of links consists of one. I’ve been busy, you see.

Name that Eponym
“Getting a building or a street named after you is a real honor, but what about a word used every day? Only a lucky few can point to their eponym. An eponym is a word derived from a person’s name, either real or fictional. In this quiz, we’ll give you a clue for the person and the definition of the word. Can you fill in the eponym?” (mental_floss Blog)

I got 50%. How’d you do?

Thankful Thursday

I’m thankful for the mama mallard with young’ns in the pond behind the house. I’m thankful for the window in the living room with a view of the bush and the mountains behind and beyond. I’m thankful for quiet mornings after busy evenings.

I’m thankful for a little rain so I can take a break from the watering of garden and yard.

I’m thankful for non-drowsy antihistamines.

I’m thankful that youngest son can finally walk without much pain so he can take over the dog-walking job as things get busier leading up to the big wedding next weekend. (He did a number on his feet walking for miles and miles around Vancouver wearing flip-flops.)

I’m thankful my future daughter-in-law, who is a very lovely young woman.

I’m thankful for the providence of God in all these things.

On Thursdays throughout this year, I plan to post a few thoughts of thanksgiving along with Kim at the Upward Call and others. Why don’t you participate by posting your thanksgiving each week, too? It’ll be an encouragement to you and to others, I promise.