DAILY BYTEYesterday we said that there are traveling companions who join us along the road of life, who can strengthen and encourage us to persevere, especially when the going gets tough. Over the next three days we will consider some of these traveling companions, or groups of companions, that share the journey with us.
The first of these refers to those who have gone before us, who have been faithful.
The magnificent passage of scripture in Hebrews 11 that we’re reflecting on this week points to some of these heroes of the faith – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses – the list goes on and on. Men, and women, who persevered and continued to trust in God throughout their lives. Notice that in recounting their lives, there are stories of great triumph and victory, as well as stories of tremendous suffering and persecution.
The effect is to remind us that in every age, in every conceivable circumstance of life, including whatever it is that you or I may be going through right now, there have been many who have held fast to the faith and have persevered The testimony of their lives can inspire us to a faithfulness of our own, as they cheer us along and encourage us to press on.
This of course includes not only the famous heroes of the faith of long ago, but also the ordinary people known to us who have lived and who continue to live faithful lives.
Take a moment to think about the heroes of faith that you have known personally - ordinary people who have lived extraordinary lives of faithfulness. What do your memories of them evoke within you? How have they helped to point you towards God? How have they helped to bring the image of Jesus into clear and sharp focus for you? In what ways do their lives inspire you to live differently?
In remembering the faithful servants of God who have gone before us, let us give God thanks and praise for the gift of these traveling companions who share the road with us.
PRAY AS YOU GO
“We're pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace.” (Jon Mohr)
How we thank you O God for the testimony of the lives of your faithful servants, who have gone before us. We thank you for the ways in which their lives continue to point us to you, and reveal the truth of your enduring presence and grace that enables us to persevere. Amen.
FOCUS READING
Hebrews 11:32-38
And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets - who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented — the world was not worthy of them.
