SATURDAY, JULY 2
Scripture: Hebrews 11:36-38

Here is a whole chapter of people that got what they believed for when they stood in faith and yet the last few verses speak to us about a group of people that did not get what they were believing but still pleased God by their faith. Hebrews 11:36-38 says, “Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.” The last verses of Faith’s Hall of Fame help us to balance our understanding of faith. Not everyone got what they were believing for while here on earth. There were a number who walked in faith, pleased God and yet had to pass on their vision to the next generation. Some were treated brutally through mocking, scourging, chains, imprisonment, being stoned, sawn in half like Isaiah, tempted and outright killed. Yet they are mentioned in Hebrews 11. They made Faith’s Hall of Fame because they used their faith on their flesh to obey God and to contribute what He was asking them to do in their generation. Is everyone who walks in faith prosperous? Absolutely not. There is a group mentioned here that was destitute and yet they are in Faith’s Hall of Fame . History is full of great men and women who walked in faith and passed on a testimony of faithfulness to the next generation. Saints who sacrificed are mentioned here with honor and distinction! Let us be careful not to criticize those who do not live victoriously by our standards. May God give us His eyes to see and His prayers to pray!