DCLM Daily Manna 14 March 2026: Two Faces of Faith
Text: Hebrews 11:17-40 (KJV)
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures* of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again*: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword*: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins*; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
KEY VERSE: Hebrews 11:39,40
“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”
READ OTHER DCLM DAILY DEVOTIONAL HERE
Vance Havner correctly said, “Faith will not always get for us what we want, but it will get what God wants us to have.” This truth is borne out in the passage for today’s meditation.
The text lists a variety of outstanding feats of Old Testament heroes of faith. Some on this faith honour’s roll experienced miraculous deliverance and accomplished extraordinary deeds. In this category of ‘obvious success’ are those who, through faith, visualized the invisible, attempted the impossible and achieved the incredible. They “subdued kingdoms, wrought 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, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” But on the flip side are others who, by the same faith, did not receive deliverance but endured cruel mocking, agonizing torture, tragedies and trials. By listing these ‘apparent losers’ among the heroes of faith, we are instructed not to view faith as a magic bridge over our seas of problems but as a pathway through them.
From God’s perspective, faith is double-faced. We win by faith either by receiving the deliverance we desire or by receiving sufficient grace to endure without losing our trust in God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of Nebuchadnezzar’s fire unhurt by faith. Still, by the same token of faith, Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, was burnt at the stake, exuding so much courage and peace that amazed his persecutors.
The object of winning faith, then, is for you to hold on to your convictions even when you cannot predict the outcome of your course for God. As you continue to walk with God, determine to live by faith and leave the outcome to Him.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The faithful Christian is a winner – head or tail.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Numbers 19-21
DCLM Daily Manna 14 March 2026
