Monday 19 January 2009

Of whom the world was not worthy

of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. – Hebrews 11v38

subdued kingdoms
worked righteousness
obtained promises
stopped the mouths of lions
quenched the violence of fire
escaped the edge of the sword
out of weakness were made strong
became valiant in battle
turned to flight the armies of the aliens
women received their dead raised to life again
were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment
were stoned
were sawn in two
were tempted
were slain with the sword
wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins
being destitute, afflicted, tormented
wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth

That’s quite a list, isn’t it? I was going to just mention how those who act in faith are a special bunch, but though it best that we just see the full list and meditate on just what faith accomplishes.

There is a lot we could say here, but I think one really nails it. Out of all that could be said God says of them that ‘the world was not worthy.’ These folks were well and truly too good for this world. The world did not deserve them.

Faith accomplishes much. It may or may not bring us to success in the eyes of the world. Through it we might subdue kingdoms or be sawn in two. Through it we may stop the mouths of lions or be slain by the sword. Either way it is our faith allowing God to work in our lives.

Either way, the world is not worthy of these folks of faith. May we live such a life fo faith that the world is not worthy of us as well.

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