ESOCS Devotional 25 November 2025 – Faith Alone
MEMORY VERSE: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
TEXT: HEBREWS 11:1-13
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
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Hebrews 11:1 – This powerful verse encapsulates the essence of biblical faith, emphasizing trust in God’s promises even when they are invisible to the human eye. It speaks of a confident assurance in God’s character, where faith becomes the foundation of our hopes and the proof of what we cannot yet perceive. Faith, as described is not just an abstract feeling but a tangible trust in God’s promises. It is “the substance” of things for which we have hope, meaning it gives form and reality to our hopes. Just as a house begins with a blueprint, faith is the blueprint of what God has promised, though we may not yet see the finished structure. This kind of faith requires deep trust in God’s character, as He is faithful to fulfil what He has spoken. Numbers 23:19 reminds us: “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it good?”
This trust is further illustrated in the lives of the faithful throughout the Bible. In Hebrews 11, we are given examples of faith in action: Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and many others who trusted God despite overwhelming odds. Noah, for instance, built an ark on the basis of a warning about a flood when there was no evidence of rain. His faith was the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:7). Abraham trusted God’s promise of becoming the father of many nations, even when he and Sarah were well beyond childbearing years (Hebrews 11:8-12). Their faith rested not on what they could see, but on God’s promise, which was unseen at the time. The principle of faith in the unseen is further emphasized by Jesus Himself in John 20:29, where He tells Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Faith is a belief that does not rely on physical proof but on the character and word of God. Faith enables us to trust God even when circumstances seem impossible, knowing that His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Furthermore, faith is essential for pleasing God. Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Faith is the gateway through which we connect with God, trust His promises, and receive His blessings. It moves us to action, just as faith moved Abraham to leave his homeland, Moses to lead the Israelites, and countless others to trust God through trials and uncertainties. However, it is important to note that faith is not blind optimism. It is rooted in a deep knowledge of God’s nature and His promises. Romans 10:17 tells us, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Our faith grows as we immerse ourselves in Scripture and understand God’s faithfulness throughout history.
Hebrews 11:1 teaches that faith is the foundation upon which our hopes and beliefs are built. It is the confident assurance that what God has promised will come to pass, even if we cannot yet see it. This faith leads us to live in obedience, trust, and perseverance, knowing that God is faithful and His promises are true. As we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), we honour God and open ourselves to experience the fulfilment of His promises in our lives. Let us hold fast to this faith, trusting that God will do exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).
CHALLENGES
- How strong is your faith in God when things do not go well with you?
PRAYER POINT
- Father, grow my faith daily. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Job 30:1-12; 33:1-22; Hebrews 12:1-16
ESOCS Devotional 25 November 2025
