Sabbath: Having Faith
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 16th of May 2026
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study
Mark 8:11-12; Matthew 15:21-28; Luke 7:1-10; Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 11:1-40; Revelation 14:12.
Memory Text:
“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1, NLT).
Someone once said, “Faith is like WiFi. It’s invisible, but it has the power to connect you to what you need.” No doubt: without faith, there would be no relationship with God.
What is your faith like today? Has your faith in God ever been shaky? Perhaps you’ve experienced something that has challenged you to the point where you’ve not known how to move forward with your relationship with God. Or is your faith like a rose that grows from a green stem into a tiny bud that eventually opens into a bold, colorful flower and fills the room with an unforgettable scent? For truly, “faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1, NLT). It’s not something we can generate by ourselves, for “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3, NKJV). Faith is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9), and even then, our faith in God is possible only because of what God is already doing in and for us.
This week let’s explore the topic of faith: what to do with doubt and unbelief; what, according to Jesus, strong faith looks like; and what it means to have “the faith of Jesus.”
When we are asked about faith we like to quote Hebrews 11: 1:
But sometimes we think that faith is a good excuse for believing in something that we cannot see, touch, hear, taste, feel, measure with scientific instruments, or argue with inductive or deductive logic. We have a whole set of arguments for vindicating our beliefs, but if you read the rest of Hebrews 11, it describes some very practical tangible actions. It is not a chapter about abstractions and theory.
It is our actions that provide the substance and evidence of those things which are not seen. Those actions are powered by our relationship with the Holy Spirit; our active love and compassion towards others is the evidence of our faith.
Just a reminder that most of us accept electricity, not based on a sound theoretical understanding but rather on the simple demonstrative use of the switch. When you switch on the switch, the light lights, the heater heats, the motor turns, and the computer computes. And, we believe in electricity!
In the spiritual sense some of us are talking about the theory of faith and not the action of faith. James knew we were like that:
We need to find the switch to turn on the power!
Faith without works is dead.
James 2:26 . Good point
Maurice there appears to be a thin line between the concept of Faith AND Works and Faith THAT Works.
Faith AND Works says I must trust Jesus and also seek with my own wisdom, will power, skill and effort seek to live a holy life.
Faith THAT Works says I trust Jesus and I choose to obey His commands and trust in His power to execute them.
powerful and eye opening perspective
Having faith in God is one of the most difficult things we can do, yet it is also one of the most important. Faith is one of the things Jesus expects most from us, and Hebrews teaches us that without faith it is impossible to please God. The power of faith is beautifully summarized in this passage: “…who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again” (Hebrews 11:33–35).
There’s a common statement that we always hear:
The question then arises: is our “having faith” really pegged on people or leaders? Who are we having faith in? Is it God, or your fellow human whom you hold in high esteem? Many people today have this excuse regarding their faith (in God?).
Think of it: it is a terrible reason to drop your faith in God because of another person. A person just like you becomes a reason for your disconnection in your relationship with God.
Hope we think of this seriously; this week, let’s uncover what “having faith” is really about.
Faith is foundational in the life of a Christian because we are saved through in Jesus Christ. Faith is the only channel through which we can receive the grace of God, which saves us. In essence, without faith there is no salvation.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”(Ephesians 2:8).
Our spiritual maturity is actually the amount of faith we exercise, particularly in challenging situations. Faith gives us confidence to trust God. We come to know the existence of God by faith. Faith gives us the power to move spiritual mountains in our lives. “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed… nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20). If there is one thing that we need to ask God in immeasurable proportion is faith in Jesus.
The Christian church has done a pretty good job in telling people what to believe but not so good in telling them why to believe. Our faith isn’t a blind faith. It needs to be an informed faith. I didn’t check my brain at the door when I became a Christian, nor will I after being one for decades.
We can hang our hat of faith on evidence, not fables or fabrications. I have faith in God because I have personally experienced his power and presence in my life. He has come through in ways that defy logic and are beyond coincidence.
Archeology informs our faith and gives us evidence to rationally and intellectually believe. Over 26,000 archeological discoveries validate and confirm things, people, events recorded in scripture. Not a single one has contradicted the Bible. That’s another powerful reason to believe and have faith. Remember though that intellectual belief by itself will not save a person. The devil believes and trembles but he isn’t going to be saved. Our faith has to be more than a feeling, feelings can be deceiving.
Faith is like a muscle, it can grow flabby or firm depending on how much we exercise it. The enemy will often test our faith through affliction and adversity. See Job’s life if you question that. Indeed faith is forged and refined in the fires of affliction. Those fires are designed to purify our faith by burning out the impurities. Faith is a gift given to all, much like the parable of the talents. The question that remains is what will we do with the “measure of faith” entrusted to us?
Faith of Jesus is
We have to have the same faith as Jesus have.
Faith on Jesus is
Like believing on Jesus himself not the same faith as he has.
Heb.11:1 – NIV
”Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not seen.”
Heb.11:1 – KJV
”Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Heb.11-1 – NLT
”Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”
Eph.2:8-9 –
”For by Grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
To receive this gift of God – the gift of ‘being saved’ – requires that one believe that there is a benevolent God who can bestow this special gift, and that it is desirable – actually life-saving.
Even we Christians do we not fully understand and appreciate the immense value of this gift which we have received through faith. I am looking forward to learning more about “the faith of Jesus.”
We can say that faith in God is believing in our God we don”t see physically. Thomas was known for doubting. That is why our Lord said, “put your finger in my side, it is I.” John 20:27-29. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. I will use the text found in todays lesson. Faith is a gift from God Ephesians 2:8-9. I can’t quite explain it. You have to experience it. Why have faith in God? I have faith in God because it is His will that I do. It is faith in Gods promises that gives me rest with a light burden and peace by keeping my mind on Him. Matthew 11:28, Isaiah 26:3. Many other reasons we will find through out this weeks lessons.
Mark 8:11,12
Many people are looking
for signs in order for them to get the foundation of faith. But they don’t get any, they lose faith, hope and believe since they look disappointed in God.
Eph 2:8
We’re losing hope coz we don’t have evidence and this gradually distances us from God, in this case towards people he looks unable to provide and less effective.
Rev 14:12
Verify there is a call for endurance of the saints who’s faith should not be laid on eathly beings but rather on the God in heaven through Christ Jesus.
The mere fact that we pray before starting our day is faith in action (Hebrews 11:1). What follows should reflect and extend the faith with which we started. Asking the Lord for that kind of faith is the only option, because by ourselves we cannot sustain it.
Faith is about hope while hope is what keeps us patiently until evidence unravels itself.
In her introduction to this week’s lesson the author says of faith (I think correctly) that “It’s not something we can generate ourselves,for ‘for God has dealt to each one a measure of faith’… Faith is a gift of God … and even then, our faith in God is possible only because of what God is already doing in and for us.” What, then, is our role? Do we have any? Is God totally responsible for whatever faith we have or don’t have?
I guess I see it as faith is much like the gift of the talents. Each one was given resources, but it was up to them to use those talents.
God gives us enough faith to respond to Him should we choose too (this is where I think the Calvanists are in error, because they seem to believe God only gives faith to the elect). However, we have to actually act on that faith. As we exercise faith, our faith will grow.
I so enjoy reading your posts on this topic of Faith. Faith is important because without it, there is nothing to hope for. I pray every day for my faith to grow stronger. Reading your thoughts helps me to understand “faith without prayer is dead”.
Thank you all for sharing your opinions and experiences about this topic. What encourage me is the mustard seed. Faith in God makes everything possible.
Funny to think that faith is not something I work to develop; it is a work of God in me. But I guess I have to allow at least God to work on me; thus, it requires choice, as everything else in life does.
Faith — Hebrews paints it as the mystery that drives you, even when you cannot see anything ahead.
Not some ghostly dimension because you see nothing, but rather the POWER that mysteriously propels you to even greater heights.
My faith is the thing that keeps me pressing on, even when no person or worldly system gives me a chance. Faith, to me, is the force that keeps igniting me to continue.
Faith is that beautiful gift God places within a person, proving that you are made of different substance than those who give up or throw in the towel.
Faith is therefore a Jesus-thing that He shares with me. Abraham saw the hidden ram through faith, while the world could not recognize anything behind the rock or bush. As the English sometimes put it: Faith is not jumping to conclusions, but rather concluding to jump!
Faith has carried me faithfully for nearly 60 years, even though many times I could not recognize the end product or see the end of the tunnel. That is why Paul groups Faith together with Hope and Love, giving value to the unseen, as Hebrews describes it. Faith therefore also makes you a beautiful, loving person with hope in your heart.
Faith helps a person overcome pain and sickness when you follow principles of faith, because you trust the Healer more than the prescription.
Faith drives away loneliness because it includes the Giver, and suddenly you are no longer alone. Faith keeps you going while most people give up and change direction. Faith is therefore your fuel on life’s journey.
I carry firsthand knowledge of this when spiritual heroes in the CHURCH considered changing direction and began walking away from the straight path. Should I follow people, or the MAN whose body bears the scars for me? Most tumbled into the sorrowful abyss of being churchless, while I could cling with closed eyes to the rope of faith in the original unseen outcome.
What is my faith?
My faith is not something, BUT Someone.
Faith is not believing that God will do what I say. Faith is believing that God will do what he said he will do.