Daily Text and Bible Reading: Saturday, December 21 [Press play below]

11.1 Faith is the assured expectation of what is hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities that are not seen.
11.2 For by means of it, the men of ancient times had witness borne to them.
11.3 By faith we perceive that the systems of things were put in order by God’s word, so that what is seen has come into existence from things that are not visible.
11.4 By faith Abel offered God a sacrifice of greater worth than that of Cain, and through that faith he received the witness that he was righteous, for God approved his gifts, and although he died, he still speaks through his faith.
11.5 By faith Enoch was transferred so as not to see death, and he was nowhere to be found because God had transferred him; for before he was transferred he received the witness that he had pleased God well.
11.6 Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please God well, for whoever approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.
11.7 By faith Noah, after receiving divine warning of things not yet seen, showed godly fear and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; and through this faith he condemned the world, and he became an heir of the righteousness that results from faith.
11.8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, although not knowing where he was going.
11.9 By faith he lived as a foreigner in the land of the promise as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the very same promise.
11.10 For he was awaiting the city having real foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
11.11 By faith also Sarah received power to conceive offspring, even when she was past the age, since she considered Him faithful who made the promise.
11.12 For this reason, from one man who was as good as dead, there were born children, as many as the stars of heaven in number and as innumerable as the sands by the seaside.
11.13 In faith all of these died, although they did not receive the fulfillment of the promises; but they saw them from a distance and welcomed them and publicly declared that they were strangers and temporary residents in the land.
11.14 For those who speak in such a way make it evident that they are earnestly seeking a place of their own.
11.15 And yet, if they had kept remembering the place from which they had departed, they would have had opportunity to return.
11.16 But now they are reaching out for a better place, that is, one belonging to heaven. Therefore, God is not ashamed of them, to be called on as their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
11.17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, as good as offered up Isaac—the man who had gladly received the promises attempted to offer up his only-begotten son—
11.18 although it had been said to him: “What will be called your offspring will be through Isaac.”
11.19 But he reasoned that God was able to raise him up even from the dead, and he did receive him from there in an illustrative way.
11.20 By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
11.21 By faith Jacob, when about to die, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshipped while leaning on the top of his staff.
11.22 By faith Joseph, nearing his end, spoke of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and he gave instructions concerning his bones.
11.23 By faith Moses was hid by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the young child was beautiful and they did not fear the order of the king.
11.24 By faith Moses, when grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
11.25 choosing to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin,
11.26 because he considered the reproach of the Christ to be riches greater than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked intently toward the payment of the reward.
11.27 By faith he left Egypt, but not fearing the anger of the king, for he continued steadfast as seeing the One who is invisible.
11.28 By faith he observed the Passover and the splashing of the blood, so that the destroyer might not harm their firstborn.
11.29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted it, they were swallowed up.
11.30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after the people had marched around them for seven days.
11.31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who acted disobediently, because she received the spies in a peaceable way.
11.32 And what more will I say? For time will fail me if I go on to relate about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, as well as Samuel and the other prophets.
11.33 Through faith they defeated kingdoms, brought about righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
11.34 quenched the force of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from a weak state were made powerful, became mighty in war, routed invading armies.
11.35 Women received their dead by resurrection, but other men were tortured because they would not accept release by some ransom, in order that they might attain a better resurrection.
11.36 Yes, others received their trial by mockings and scourgings, indeed, more than that, by chains and prisons.
11.37 They were stoned, they were tried, they were sawn in two, they were slaughtered by the sword, they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, while they were in need, in tribulation, mistreated;
11.38 and the world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and mountains and caves and dens of the earth.
11.39 And yet all of these, although they received a favorable witness because of their faith, did not obtain the fulfillment of the promise,
11.40 because God had foreseen something better for us, so that they might not be made perfect apart from us.
12.1 So, then, because we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also throw off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
12.2 as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus. For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
12.3 Indeed, consider closely the one who has endured such hostile speech from sinners against their own interests, so that you may not get tired and give up.
12.4 In your struggle against that sin, you have never yet resisted to the point of having your blood shed.
12.5 And you have entirely forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not belittle the discipline from Jehovah, nor give up when you are corrected by him;
12.6 for those whom Jehovah loves he disciplines, in fact, he scourges everyone whom he receives as a son.”
12.7 You need to endure as part of your discipline. God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
12.8 But if you have not all shared in receiving this discipline, you are really illegitimate children, and not sons.
12.9 Furthermore, our human fathers used to discipline us, and we gave them respect. Should we not more readily submit ourselves to the Father of our spiritual life and live?
12.10 For they disciplined us for a short time according to what seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit so that we may partake of his holiness.
12.11 True, no discipline seems for the present to be joyous, but it is painful; yet afterward, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12.12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that hang down and the feeble knees,
12.13 and keep making straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but, rather, may be healed.
12.14 Pursue peace with all people and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord.
12.15 Carefully watch that no one fails to obtain the undeserved kindness of God, so that no poisonous root springs up to cause trouble and many are defiled by it;
12.16 and watch that among you there is no one who is sexually immoral nor anyone who does not appreciate sacred things, like Esau, who gave up his rights as firstborn in exchange for one meal.
12.17 For you know that afterward when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for although he earnestly tried to bring about a change of mind with tears, it was to no avail.
12.18 For you have not approached something that can be felt and that has been set aflame with fire, and a dark cloud and thick darkness and a storm,
12.19 and the blast of a trumpet and the voice speaking words, which on hearing, the people begged that nothing further should be spoken to them.
12.20 For they could not bear the command: “If even a beast touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”
12.21 Also, the display was so terrifying that Moses said: “I am afraid and trembling.”
12.22 But you have approached a Mount Zion and a city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and myriads of angels
12.23 in general assembly, and the congregation of the firstborn who have been enrolled in the heavens, and God the Judge of all, and the spiritual lives of righteous ones who have been made perfect,
12.24 and Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood, which speaks in a better way than Abel’s blood.
12.25 See that you do not refuse to listen to the one who is speaking. For if those who refused to listen to the one giving divine warning on earth did not escape, how much more will we not escape if we turn away from him who speaks from the heavens!
12.26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised: “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.”
12.27 Now the expression “yet once more” indicates the removal of the things that are shaken, things that have been made, in order that the things not shaken may remain.
12.28 Therefore, seeing that we are to receive a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us continue to receive undeserved kindness, through which we may acceptably offer God sacred service with godly fear and awe.
12.29 For our God is a consuming fire.
13.1 Let your brotherly love continue.
13.2 Do not forget hospitality, for through it some unknowingly entertained angels.
13.3 Keep in mind those in prison, as though you were imprisoned with them, and those being mistreated, since you yourselves also are in the body.
13.4 Let marriage be honorable among all, and let the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers.
13.5 Let your way of life be free of the love of money, while you are content with the present things. For he has said: “I will never leave you, and I will never abandon you.”
13.6 So that we may be of good courage and say: “Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
13.7 Remember those who are taking the lead among you, who have spoken the word of God to you, and as you contemplate how their conduct turns out, imitate their faith.
13.8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.
13.9 Do not be led astray by various and strange teachings, for it is better for the heart to be strengthened by undeserved kindness than by foods, which do not benefit those occupied with them.
13.10 We have an altar from which those who offer sacred service at the tent have no authority to eat.
13.11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is taken into the holy place as a sin offering by the high priest are burned up outside the camp.
13.12 Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people with his own blood.
13.13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the reproach he bore,
13.14 for we do not have here a city that remains, but we are earnestly seeking the one to come.
13.15 Through him let us always offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that make public declaration to his name.
13.16 Moreover, do not forget to do good and to share what you have with others, for God is well-pleased with such sacrifices.
13.17 Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over you as those who will render an account, so that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to you.
13.18 Keep praying for us, for we trust we have an honest conscience, as we wish to conduct ourselves honestly in all things.
13.19 But I especially urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you the sooner.
13.20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, with the blood of an everlasting covenant,
13.21 equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us through Jesus Christ what is well-pleasing in his sight, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
13.22 Now I urge you, brothers, to listen patiently to this word of encouragement, for I have written you a short letter.
13.23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon, I will be with him when I see you.
13.24 Give my greetings to all those who are taking the lead among you and to all the holy ones. Those in Italy send you their greetings.
13.25 The undeserved kindness be with all of you.