Faith Brings Blessings

  This is one of the last posts for my class. Maybe I will be able to keep up with blogging once the class is over.... hmm We'll see.

***Remember, what I say is how I perceive it and it is not doctrine!***

        There are moments in our life when we feel faithful, yet we don't know how to show it to the Lord. When we are unsure of something it is great to look to an example. Paul gives examples of faith in Hebrews 11. Here is a table of those examples. Some of them I don't know exactly how they were blessed, but they still demonstrated their faith

Name	Verse	How they Demonstrated faith	Blessings they Received
Abel	4	Offered a “more escellent sacrifice”	A witness from God that he was righteous
Enoch	5	Had a testimony that pleased God	He was translated that he should not see death
Noah	7	Prepared an ark	Became heir of the righteous
Abraham	8	He went, not knowing why	Received an inheritance
Sara	11	Strength	Child
Abraham	17	Offered his son Isaac	“in Isaac shall [his] seed be called”
Isaac	20	Blessed Jacob and Esau	?
Jacob	21	Blessed both the sons of Joseph	?
Joseph	22	Mentioned the departing of the children of Israel	?
Moses’s parents	23	Hid him for being a “proper child.” Not being afraid of the king’s commandment	Moses lived
Moses	24	Refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; chose to suffer with the people of God; esteeming in the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; forsook Egypt; endured; kept the Passover; passed through the Red Sea;	People of Israel were freed

         Other than those that Paul mentioned there could be more people included in this list. For example; Nephi, he was able to get the plates from Laban and many other things by faith. He was blessed with the Promised Land. The people in the Americas during Christ’s birth. There was a group of them that were about to be killed, yet they never denied. Because of their faith they were blessed with the knowledge of Christ coming to the world and probably other blessings I can’t think of or remember. Then, of course, Joseph Smith. He was extremely faithful. He dedicated his life to God’s work. Joseph had been blessed with glory on high because of his extreme faith.

         Paul encouraged the people to show their faith by setting aside their sins and “run with patience.” He tells them to look to Christ, “the author and finisher of our faith.” 

After reading the passages in the student manual I now understand the difference between faith and belief. Belief is more of a passive word; I understand it as “halfhearted.” When I’m asked a question at work and I don’t know the answer 100% sure I use the word believe. For example “I believe it might be.” It doesn’t give the guest 120% assurance. Then there is faith. Faith is an active word. When you use the word faith people know and you know that you really do have faith in it. It has power. 
***Remember, what I say is how I perceive it and it is not doctrine!***