Hebrews 11:1 Context
The author of Hebrews is unknown, but it is likely the audience was Jewish Christians. The author spent the previous chapters showing Jesus Christ as the Son of God, revealing God’s plan of grace and salvation.
Hebrews 11:1 Meaning
Jesus is the promised Messiah, both the High Priest going before the Father on our behalf and the final sacrificial lamb to take away the sins of the world once and for all.
We no longer rely on an earthly priest or animal sacrifice of the Jewish tradition, but we now have faith.
We know our sins are washed away. We are forgiven and now have access to God the Father and his very presence. This is our assurance of salvation and faith.
Faith is not a vague feeling or concept, but a rooted confidence in who Christ is and a trust that God is who he says he is, and that his promises will come to pass.
Hebrews 11:1 Application
It is easy to know that the right thing to do is trust God and have faith, but why can’t we trust and have faith?
As a son and daughter of God, your hope, your confidence, and your faith must be rooted in Christ.
Then, in every circumstance, you have the opportunity to respond out of that restful, settled assurance of what you already know—the good news, the promises, and the character of our mighty God.
If we can reassess circumstances in the light of this assurance, we can begin to walk in hope.
Pray the Lord reminds you to focus on who he is, and what he has already done to make a way for you. Let this assurance of your salvation and his unending faithfulness come alive in your heart and mind.
God has called us, so we need not lose heart. We can confidently run the race because he knows what is ahead of us. He is trustworthy and good. He will “never leave us or forsake us” and “his mercies are new every morning.”
“But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”