Not A Reputation Building

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Hebrews 11:32-33

And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

 

Bible Reading for a Year [bible]psalm21[/bible]; [bible]matth21[/bible]; [bible]iichr25-26[/bible]

Hebrews 11 is a unique chapter. It contains brief biography of some faith warriors (figures) from the Old Testament. Interestingly, the author of Hebrews only listed their victory of faith without mentioning any of their failures. Today if such biography were published—a biography that contains merely the good side of the figure—people would have despised it. Those who have known well the figure would consider the biography as strategy for reputation building. Has the author of Hebrews tried to build the figures’ reputation?

Solomon reminds us that not all things are worth discussing; so we have to select them all wisely. Seemingly, this is what the author of Hebrews did. Though every figure had their own weaknesses—after all, they committed terrible sins—the author decided not to reveal or judge them. He chose to focus on their faith (the phrase “by faith” appears 19 times in Hebrews 11). It is not reputation building. It is God’s view of grace to them. God accounts their faith instead of compares their good deeds to their sins. Isn’t this news good and joy-provoking? 

Having received grace, we should joy because God has forgiven and forgot our sins—we should celebrate our victory with Him! Let the joy be abundant in our relations with other people: we choose to forgive and forget their mistakes, and are more interested in discussing things for faith building’s sake. –ARS

Reputation building is about focusing on human’s kindness and strength; grace is about focusing on God’s kindness and strength.

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