The Daily Office for January 30, 2012
Scriptures
Psalm 56
Genesis 19:1-29
Hebrews 11:1-12
John 6:27-40
Reading (Hebrews 11:1-12)
Reflection
There is a wealth of wisdom in Verse 1: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." This verse is not so much a definition of what faith is as it is a description of what faith does. Two truths concerning its activity are stated here. First, faith provides substance, or hypostasis in the Greek. Precisely what this word means here is difficult to determine. The word hypostasis occurs twenty times in the Septuagint and translates twelve different Hebrew words. It is used five times in the New Testament. Four different meanings can guide us as we determine its usage here. The first is that of substance as an essence of something. This is its sense in Hebrews 1:3, where Christ is described as the hypostasis of God, the essence or express image of God. The second is that of substance as the foundation of something. Faith then would be regarded as the foundation upon which hope is built. The third is that of assurance. This concept is simpler; it also is more fitting and parallels the concept of the last half of verse 1. The fourth is that of a guarantee and can be seen as the “title deed” of things hoped for. Within all the meanings there is the same central idea of something that underlies visible conditions and guarantees a future possession. It is evidence in the sense of proof which results in conviction.
Now, the difference between the substance or assurance of the first part of the verse and the evidence or conviction of the last part may seem minimal; but the contrast within the verse focuses upon the qualifying phrases: of things hoped for and of things not seen. The first involves future hopes; the second involves present realities, which are unseen. The first includes the hope of the resurrection, the return of Christ, and the glorification of the saints. The second involves unseen realities, such as the forgiveness of sin through Christ’s sacrifice and the present intercession of Christ in heaven. Hope is faith relating to the future; conviction is faith relating to the present. Through Jesus Christ, then, our present and future are assured. Put your trust in Him today and lean on His promises so that you will have confidence in all things.
Collect for the Day
King of kings and Lord of lords, whose faithful servant Charles prayed for those who persecuted him and died in the living hope of your eternal kingdom: grant us by your grace so to follow his example that we may love and bless our enemies, through the intercession of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.