The Best of the Portals of Prayer

Read: Hebrews 11:1-22

“This is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.”
1st John 5:4

Heroes of Faith

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph were “great” men, but such greatness is not to be found only in the lives of those who do such miraculous things. Simple men and women in the common walks of life may be equally “great”, as was the woman who pleaded for her daughter [Matthew 15:21-28] or the Roman soldier who asked Jesus to heal his servant [Matthew 8:5-10]. Even today, it is possible by the grace of God to be great in His sight. To suffer injury or loss without complaining, to make sacrifices for the welfare of others, to be faithful during a long and painful illness, to refuse to compromise your faith, even under severe pressure, and to boldly confess Christ when ridiculed, or when life is endangered – all this is part of a heroic life that may be ours with the help of God. Victories on the battlefield, athletic contests, and in business are highly regarded, yet they pale into insignificance beside the faith that the Holy Spirit implants in us, faith that leans on God’s wisdom and power and is rooted in the sacrifice Christ made for us on the cross. Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN.

January 31, 1966