Fear Vs Faith

What I learnt from today's first reading.

Note... I did NOT write this...
... someone sent me this via email...
... I do not know who wrote it...
... but I found it very good...
... so I'm posting it on my BLOG.

It helped me understand that Faith is the opposite of Fear.
We normally Fear what we are unable to see or understand.
Faith gives us Hope... which is definitely...
... a whole lot better than the feeling of Fear.

~~~.

Saturday, 19th Feb 2011

Saturday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

(From today's First Reading ~ Heb 11:1-7)

Faith is being SURE of what we HOPE for and CERTAIN of what we do not SEE. ~ Heb 11:1

By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God, 

so that what is visible came into being through the invisible. ~ Heb 11:3

Faith Not Fear ~ You may notice that all the fears we have looked at so far are linked to things we can't see, control or understand. It's in that gap between what we know and what we don't that fear lies. But God has something else to fill that gap: faith. But what is it? In today's passage (Heb 11:1-7) I would like to point out a few key words.

Firstly, 'sure' and 'certain'; those are concrete terms: while fear is linked to uncertainty, faith is far more tangible, objective and sure.

Fear = Uncertainty
Faith = More Tangible, Objective & Sure

Secondly, 'hope'. 'Hope' is my favorite word in the Bible. It is forward looking and full of abundant potential. Hope is what gives me purpose. The times when I've lacked it have been the most miserable periods of my life. Faith results in hope and hope is the result of faith.

And, finally, 'see'. Faith is linked to vision. Seeing through the eyes of faith gives us hope and certainty. These are the opposite of fear and uncertainty. Ask God to fill you now with faith. Remember this is faith in His ability – not your own.

~~~.

1ST Reading

Heb 11:1-7

Faith is the realization of what is hoped for

and evidence of things not seen.

Because of it the ancients were well attested.

By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God,

so that what is visible came into being through the invisible.

By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice greater than Cain's.

Through this, he was attested to be righteous,

God bearing witness to his gifts,

and through this, though dead, he still speaks.

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death,

and he was found no more because God had taken him.

Before he was taken up, he was attested to have pleased God.

But without faith it is impossible to please him,

for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists

and that he rewards those who seek him.

By faith Noah, warned about what was not yet seen,

with reverence built an ark for the salvation of his household. 

Through this, he condemned the world

and inherited the righteousness that comes through faith.

~~~.
Some bibles have this verse...
Faith is being SURE of what we HOPE for and CERTAIN of what we do not SEE. ~ Heb 11:1
... as...
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. ~ Heb 11:1

... which is about the same... which is...
SURE = realization
HOPE = hoped
CERTAIN = evidence
SEE = seen
~~~.
Labels:

Favorite Bible Quote, Faith, God, 

~~~.