Hebrews 11:6 6But 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.
Most people quote only the first part of Hebrews 11:6 — “without faith
it is impossible to please Him”. Yet, it goes on to say, “for he who comes
to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who
diligently seek Him”. In other words, the faith that pleases God is the kind of
faith that believes that God exists and that He is a rewarder.
The Bible also says that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen”. (Hebrews 11:1) So even in times of difficulty, when we
don’t see good things happening in our circumstances, we are to believe that God
will turn things around and reward us.
God turned things around for Ruth, the Moabite widow, when she believed
the Lord and made Him her God. (Ruth 1:16) The Bible tells us that she was
given a “full reward” by the Lord when she came under His wings for refuge.
(Ruth 2:12) Not only did He give her protection, He also gave her abundant provision,
exceeding favor and a glorious redemption. (Ruth 2:9–17, 3:11, 4:10–13)
When Rahab, the harlot of Jericho, heard reports of how the Lord had opened
up the Red Sea for the children of Israel, she believed that “He is God in heaven
above and on earth beneath”. (Joshua 2:9–11) Though Rahab had not personally
witnessed the miracles, she believed God and hid the Jewish spies from their pursuers.
(Joshua 2:4–6) Because of her faith, she not only did not perish with those
who did not believe (Joshua 6:25, Hebrews 11:31), but she was also given a place
in the “hall of faith” in Hebrews 11.
God was so pleased with the faith of these two Gentile women that He not
only blessed them in their lifetimes, but He also put them into the genealogy of
His Son Jesus Christ, the great Redeemer and rewarder.
Beloved, when you come to the Lord with your needs, believe that He is God,
and that He is a rewarder. God has pleasure in this kind of faith. He wants to be
the rewarder of your faith in Him!
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