Carol J German

In God’s Kingdom, what does faith look like? Thankfully, God shows you many examples within the pages of His Word. Jesus being the perfect example, He lived a life of confidence that came from abiding with the Father. You can live a life of confidence, too, when you abide in Christ.

Confidence must come from faith in Jesus Christ alone. Any other confidence is rooted in vanity and self-centeredness.

What does God consider acceptable faith from a believer? In Hebrews 11, God gives a clear picture of what faith looks like in everyday life. While the people you read about faced challenges, their confidence was in God alone. “All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.”¹³ May you have this same mindset along with hope in Jesus Christ for this is where God meets you to take you from being self-confident to God-confident.

Right from the start in God’s plan of redemption, Adam and Eve’s first two sons demonstrated what God is looking for in His children. Abel gave a more acceptable offering. He was considered righteous. A man named Enoch pleased God. God spared him from death. Noah, the ark builder, obeyed God. He separated himself from the ways of the world and God considered him righteous.

Abraham obeyed God. He followed God despite not knowing where he was going. When he reached the place God had for him, he lived as a foreigner rather than settling in like it was his home. He trusted God. God blessed his sons because of his faith.

Abraham confidently looked forward to heaven. He displayed the correct mindset. All these Hebrews 11 hall-of-famers displayed the correct mindset, a mindset that pleased God.

Sarah believed God that He would keep His promise to her. When God answered her, it was given when it was deemed physically impossible for she was barren and very old. A whole nation came from one man (and his wife) at a time when everything looked good as dead. In human wisdom, this can’t be happening.

Despite the odds they faced, they were not ashamed to call God their God; see verse 15. They chose to believe whole-heartedly.

After God blessed Abraham and Sarah with a son, God asked Abraham to give him up. God tested Abraham. God will test your faith also. “Sacrifice your son Abraham.” While this seems odd, if not cruel, God had reasons for it. What is important to see here is Abraham’s faith despite the years of waiting for a son, and then the joy of having Isaac. Sometimes God doesn’t make sense, and that’s ok. What is good to remember is that God has a purpose for everything you go through. Abraham was still willing to trust and have faith that God had a different plan than what he saw in the moment. He remained obedient despite his circumstances.

Obedience is more important than God’s promises when it comes to living out faith in real time.

Isaac was able to pass down God’s promises to his sons. See, God had a plan unbeknownst to Abraham at the time. Jacob blessed each of Joseph’s sons. They worshiped God first and foremost.

Joseph confidently believed that God would deliver the Israelites out of Egypt. It did happen for you read about Moses’ parents hiding their son. They were not afraid to disobey the king’s command to murder first-born sons. “They saw that God had given them an unusual child.”²³ Moses’ life was spared because God has a purpose for him. He grew up with the luxuries of Egypt; aka, the ways of the world. He refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share in the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin; see verse 25. He aligned his life to the ways of Christ over the treasures of Egypt and the world.

Confidence comes from separating yourself from the pleasures and lures of this world.

Moses looked forward to what lied ahead for his reward. He left Egypt not fearing the repercussions from the king or anyone else. He kept his eyes on God. As he led the Israelites to their own freedom, he encouraged them to obey. God led them through a sea on dry ground with the enemy on their heels, and they marched around Jericho seven times. While that probably seemed weird, they obeyed anyway and they watched the enemy drown and Jericho’s walls come tumbling down.

A prostitute hid God’s spies and saved them and herself. Others were able to overthrow kingdoms, rule with justice, and receive what God promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched hot flames, and escaped death.

Why does God test His children? He wants you and I to become confident, confident in Him! When your weakness becomes His strength, you become strong in battle! Whole armies have to flee.

Many others were mistreated for having faith. They refused to turn from God despite their hardships. Their hope and confidence was in a better life after the resurrection. It is good to remember that God has something better in mind for you. It is perfection, perfection in believing Christ. When you are made perfect in faith, then you will live with confidence. It’s a confidence that the world will see and be enamored by.

Whatever you are facing today, have no fear and be of great courage for God is with you. You can face all things with confidence for you are strong and mighty in the Lord as you obey your Savior and Lord Jesus.