Defining faith. That’s what I’m doing this morning as I mentally chew on the first half of Hebrews 11.

Ask me what faith is before this morning’s reading and I probably would have been quick to give a one-word answer, “Believing.” And it is. But it’s also more.

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

(Hebrews 11:1 CSB)

Hmm . . . the reality . . . the proof . . . pretty substantive stuff. To quote a famous band from the ’70’s, faith is “more than a feeling.”

And as I read on, it really is! It’s more than just some pie-in-the-sky for a sweet-by-and-by. Faith fuels action. Where there’s the “smoke” of living outside the norms of those around us, you can suspect there’s the “fire” of faith operative within us. Or, to say it as James would, “I will show you faith by my works” (James 2:18b).

So, what are some of the works of faith? Well according to the cast of characters in Hebrews 11:1-16 . . .

A person of faith is an understander, knowing that God created the universe (v.3). They are an offerer (v.4), sacrificially giving gifts to God. And they are a pleaser (v.5), their acts of faith serving to delight their God — in fact, without faith it is impossible to please God (v.6).

What’s more, the person of faith is a condemner (v.7), their determination to hold fast to what is not seen an indictment to all around who worship and live for what is.

The person of faith is a goer, even when they are not a knower of where they are going (v.8). When called, they obey, willing to live as a foreigner in the land of promise even as they wait for the promise to be fulfilled.

And the person of faith is a receiver — a receiver of power beyond their own power because they are also a considerer, considering God faithful to His promises (v.11).

Faith’s presence is manifest in faith’s performance. Its existence is known by its execution.

It’s more than a feeling.

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For by this our ancestors were approved.

(Hebrews 11:1-2 CSB)

Because of God’s grace. Only for God’s glory.