Created to BeSample

Hear, Believe, Obey

By Steve Dulin

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Hebrews 11 because it tells us about the “heroes of faith”—the people throughout the Bible who did amazing exploits for God. I have read Hebrews 11 many times, but one day I noticed a pattern. All the heroes listed in that chapter heard God, believed God, and obeyed God. Noah heard God tell him to build an ark, he believed God, obeyed Him, and saved his household. Moses followed the same pattern when God told him to take the children of Israel out of Egypt. And when Joshua heard, believed, and obeyed God’s instruction to march around Jericho seven times and shout, the walls came tumbling down. 

Many people who grew up in church remember being told to hear and obey. But they are leaving a step out. We may hear God, but if we don’t believe what we’ve heard, we won’t obey. Biblical faith is believing what God says no matter what people, our feelings, or our circumstances tell us.

The good news is we can follow the pattern outlined in Hebrews 11 today! We can hear God every day because He has sent the Holy Spirit to speak to us, guide us into all truth (John 16:13), and tell us what God wants us to do. And there is more good news! If we hear and believe Him, He gives us the power to obey Him—to do what He told us to do—even if it seems impossible.

Acts 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The Holy Spirit gives us power not only to witness to other people about Jesus but also to do what He says. When we obey God and He shows up to do signs, wonders, and miracles through our lives, it makes us want to follow Jesus even more and become even greater disciples.

I don’t know about you, but I would have wanted to be one of those heroes of faith. What if God was writing a faith chapter today in the books He keeps in heaven? Would you make it in? What do you think it would take to become a hero of faith? Follow the examples of Jesus’ disciples and the heroes of faith, and hear, believe, and obey God every day. When you become a follower, you have the power to change the world for Jesus Christ!

Prayer

Father, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit so He might guide me into all truth. Today, I choose to hear what You are saying, believe You, and obey You so I might be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ and become one of His followers. Please give me the grace and power to do Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6