Faith is unwavering confidence in God’s promises ∙
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:19
Hebrews 11:1-6
2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.
3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
The Power of Role Models: Shaping Beliefs and Behaviors
Almost anyone can become a role model, but visibility is essential in achieving that status. In Western culture, the most common role models are public figures such as athletes, actors, musicians, and celebrities due to their prominence and reach.
A role model is someone who inspires others to adopt their beliefs, values, and behaviors. Through their actions, achievements, and sensitivity, they shape how others perceive and navigate the world.
Positive vs. Negative Role Models
Role models can have either a positive or negative influence, each leaving a different impact on those who look up to them. Positive Role Models exhibit helpful attitudes and behaviors, inspiring others to lead lives filled with integrity, optimism, and compassion. Negative Role Models display harmful or disruptive behaviors, serving as examples of what to avoid.
The Impact of Positive Role Models
Positive role models have a significant impact on shaping the lives of others, as they exemplify how to live with:
- Integrity: Acting in accordance with one’s values and principles.
- Optimism: Maintaining hope and a positive outlook even in challenging circumstances.
- Confidence: Believing in oneself and inspiring others to do the same.
- Compassion: Showing care and concern for others.
- Determination: Persevering through obstacles to achieve success.
When parents and mentors demonstrate these qualities, they provide a compelling example for young individuals, motivating them to seek and emulate positive influences.
Qualities of Positive Role Models
(Adapted from Marilyn Price-Mitchell)
- Passion and the Ability to Inspire: Positive role models are deeply passionate about their work, motivating others to share in their enthusiasm.
- Clear Set of Values: They consistently live out their beliefs and values, serving as examples of integrity and authenticity.
- Commitment to Community: Role models prioritize others over themselves, dedicating their time and talents to benefit their communities.
- Selflessness and Acceptance of Others: They recognize and respond to the needs of others, accepting people who are different from themselves.
- Ability to Overcome Obstacles: Positive role models demonstrate resilience, proving that success is possible even when facing challenges.
- Optimism: They find opportunities where others see limitations, maintaining a hopeful outlook regardless of the circumstances.
- Confidence: Their boldness and self-assurance motivate others to believe in themselves and pursue their own dreams..
Ultimately, the most essential quality of a positive role model is their ability to inspire others to pursue greatness.
REFLECT & PRAY
David Allen explains, “Faith is the objective grounds upon which subjective confidence may be based.”
Father, thank You for Your faithfulness and care. Help me to trust You by faith and to live in a way that inspires others to do the same.
INSIGHT
Reassessing Our Role Models
It is time for the children of the King to reevaluate who we look up to as role models. The Scriptures in Hebrews 11 provide us with extraordinary examples to emulate, offering guidance and inspiration for living a life of faith and purpose. These role models fall into two categories:
- Heroes of the Faith: These are the men and women of long ago, celebrated in Hebrews 11, who demonstrated unwavering faith in God despite immense challenges.
- Godly Spiritual Leaders: These are the faithful leaders in our lives today, who guide us with wisdom, humility, and a Christlike example.
The Call to Lead by Example
The Apostle Peter offers a clear directive for spiritual leaders in 1 Peter 5:2-3: “Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly, not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.”
This passage highlights that leadership is not about wielding power or seeking personal gain; rather, it is about serving others with humility and setting a positive example. True leaders inspire those around them by authentically living out their faith and demonstrating Christ-like qualities in their daily lives.
Faith: The Foundation of Confidence
Faith is not wishful thinking or blind optimism. As Charles Stanley explains, faith is the conviction that God will always fulfill His promises, no matter the circumstances. It is the assurance that unseen realities are as tangible as the visible world.
The Scriptures provide a working definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” The Father Himself is the unwavering foundation for our confidence. He is always faithful and fully committed to keeping His promises.
Understanding Faith Through Greek Terms
In Hebrews 11:1, there are two Greek terms of great significance, typically translated as “confidence” and “conviction.” In the first clause, the Greek word translated as “confidence, assurance, or being sure” is hypostasis. Hypostasis conveys the idea that “faith gives substance to our hopes.” “Faith makes God’s promises real and tangible, before they are fulfilled.
Faith is not just a personal feeling; it serves as the “objective foundation for the things we hope for.” Faith leads to hope, which is the “confident, unwavering expectation that what God has promised will ultimately be fulfilled.” In essence, “faith allows us to ‘grasp’ those promises, making them feel real and tangible, even if we haven’t yet seen them. It makes God’s promises feel solid and credible, even before they come to fruition.”
The second Greek term is “elenchos,” which is translated as “conviction,” “evidence,” or “proof.” Elenchos refers to the “evidence that convinces or persuades us of the truth of unseen realities.” Faith generates the conviction that empowers us to fully trust in God’s promises.
As F.F. Bruce explains, “Faith is the organ which enables people to see the invisible.” Faith is not wishful thinking or a leap in the dark but a settled confidence in the eternal, all-powerful, and trustworthy God.
Heroes of the Faith: Examples to Follow
The Scriptures highlight the lives of faithful men and women who stood firm in their trust in God. These heroes of the faith, found in Hebrews 11, serve as role models for the children of the King. Their lives demonstrate that faith is essential to pleasing God and that it empowers us to overcome obstacles and achieve what seems impossible.
Hebrews 11:6, “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”
These individuals, Abraham, Moses, Rahab, and others, lived lives of faith that were marked by courage, perseverance, and trust in God’s promises. They remind us that in the kingdom of God, success is not measured by worldly achievements but by the obstacles we overcome through faith.
Faith in Action: A Biblical Perspective
Faith is not passive; it is active and transformative. As the ESV Study Notes explain,
“Biblical faith is not a vague hope grounded in imaginary, wishful thinking. Instead, faith is a settled confidence that something in the future – something that is not yet seen but has been promised by God – will actually come to pass because God will bring it about. Thus, biblical faith is not blind trust in the face of contrary evidence, not an unknowable “‘leap in the dark;’ rather, biblical faith is a confident trust in the eternal God who is all-powerful, infinitely wise, eternally trustworthy . . .”
Faith empowers us to trust in God’s eternal wisdom and power, even when the path ahead is unclear. It is the foundation for living a life that pleases God and inspires others.
A Measure of True Success
As Booker T. Washington wisely said, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which one has overcome.”
The heroes of faith illustrate this truth: their lives were not characterized by comfort or ease, but by their ability to trust God during trials and challenges. They inspire us to live with the same unwavering faith, confident that God’s promises are reliable.
Conclusion: Reflect and Reassess
The Scriptures call us to reassess our role models and look to those who exemplify faith, humility, and godly leadership. Whether it is the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11 or the spiritual leaders in our lives today, these role models inspire us to live with confidence in God’s promises and to lead others by example.
Let us strive to emulate their faith, courage, and commitment, trusting that God will fulfill His promises in His perfect time.
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 