“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By faith Abel brought God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.”

Hebrews 11:1-4

Let’s break down this passage together. Read it out loud with me.

“Now faith…”

Now faith. Not then faith. Not the last time you heard a preacher say “Now faith”. That was then. This is now. Now faith.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

What do you hope for now? What are you sure about now that you do not yet see?

Is it God’s righteousness on this earth? Is it God’s provision in your life? Is it God’s healing and restoration in your family? What do you believe in so much that you are willing to sacrifice by faith now in order to see it come to pass?

Do you even have that kind of faith?

This the the faith that the ancients were commended for – their now faith in God. Their now faith is being commended now, even though they had it then. By faith, the ancients, like Abel, still speak.

Are you listening?

Let’s listen…now.

He’s worth listening to – after all, God commended him as righteous. Why was God pleased with his offerings? Because he brought them by his now faith. The text says that by faith, Abel brought God a better sacrifice.

Thinking about your now faith…what is a better sacrifice to bring now?

What is worth giving up to the Lord in order to see something much better? Don’t forget – sacrifices expire. Some things we sacrifice to the Lord in one season lose their power in another. Whats a better sacrifice for you now?

Before you begin to think whether about it’s harder for you to give up coffee or wine, look at verse 2.

“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”

“By faith we understand.” This clause alone is worth meditating on.

We do not walk in faith by our own understanding. But rather by faith, we understand that the better sacrifice is only better because God says it is better – not because we say it is.

You see, God’s commands don’t just inform. They form.

“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”

Let God’s commands form your frame of mind to understand what is the better sacrifice in this season.

Then, obey.

Now.

Oh, one more thing.

God gave the best sacrifice of all – He did not spare His own son. And the blood of Jesus speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Jesus speaks the best word. He is the Word.

His word saves us, for we could never speak enough of our own words to see salvation.

Therefore, approach the throne of grace boldly – knowing that our great high priest has gone before us. Through Him, we sacrifice ourselves.

After all, Jesus sacrificed himself then.

We are to sacrifice ourselves now.