Hebrews 11 is often called the Faith Hall of Fame because it celebrates the lives of those who were commended for their faith. They were commended for their faith in action. Yes, we are saved by faith alone, but I’m convinced that if we settle for mere acknowledgment of God’s existence, we are living an incomplete faith. Our faith grows and is made complete by what we do.
As unfathomable as it may seem, God allows our prayers to impact the world. We see the significance of prayers offered on behalf of others over and over again in the Bible. Even, Jesus modeled the importance of praying for others when he interceded for his disciples, for children, and for us as future believers (John 17). In fact, Jesus is still interceding for us at the right hand of God, advocating on our behalf (Romans 8:34).
There is just something comforting about the touch of a loved one, isn’t there? An encouraging pat on the back, a reassuring squeeze of the hand, a playful rustle of the hair, a quick kiss on the forehead, or a lingering embrace—these kinds of touches can strengthen our connection, soothe our emotions, and communicate understanding without a word. From the moment we are born to the final days of our lives, touch is an integral part of the human experience, impacting our physical, mental, and emotional health.
The apostle James says, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14b). Psalm 90 shares something similar when the psalmist reminds us a thousand years are like a day to the Lord. Realizing our days are numbered helps us to steward the little time we have wisely and for eternal good. If we have something important we want to do, we must not put it off for a better day. Because life is short, we shouldn’t neglect what is truly important. Time is but a vapor and we can’t get it back.
Celebration isn’t just reserved for the holidays and big milestone moments of our lives. We can chose to celebrate each moment and view every moment as holy.