Hebrews 11 is the chapter on faith. It tells us about our ancestors and what they, as ordinary people, accomplished because they had faith in God. In Hebrews 11:1 faith is defined as having the confidence, the reality, of what we hope for and having the assurance, or the proof, although we do not see it.
Why is faith so important? Hebrews 11:6 gives us the answer; it is not possible to please God without faith.
Abraham and Sarah had faith in God for a child despite the fact that Sarah was barren and both were long past childbearing age. They had faith in God’s promises that they would have a son and that Abraham would be the father of nations. (Genesis 15, 17)
Daniel’s faith gave him courage to stand up for his faith throughout his life, from a young age until he was a very old man. He was captured and exiled to Babylon along with his people as a young adult. He was chosen to be trained by the Babylonians to work for the king. The chosen candidates received the best food, food from the king’s table. However, Daniel’s faith did not allow him to defile himself with the food provided. He stood up for his faith. (Daniel 1)
Another example of his faith is when he was thrown into the den of lions as an old man in his 80s. Angels kept the mouths shut of the lions and Daniel came to no harm (Daniel 6).
Biblical Marriage Scriptures
Genesis is the book of the beginning; the beginning of the world, time, sacrifices, mankind and marriage. God created Adam and Eve, Adam from the dust of the earth and Eve from his rib. He created them for each other.
Genesis 2:23-24 shows Adam’s joy and explains the mystery of marriage. A man would leave his parent’s house, to be joined to his wife; they will be united as one. Until verse 24, Adam referred to Eve as the woman. In verse 25 the Bible changes the wording from woman to speaking about the man’s wife. Marriage was instigated by God, and is therefore holy.
Matthew 19:4-6 confirms the importance of marriage. The Pharisees asked Jesus a question about divorce, with the purpose of setting a trap. Jesus answered them by reminding them that God created men and women. He continued by referring to Genesis 2:23-24, emphasizing that God put them together in marriage. They are no longer two but have become one and no man should split apart what God had joined together.
In Ephesians 5, the closest Paul could describe the relationship between Jesus and the church was that of a marriage, between a husband and wife. Paul continued describing the church, using examples of how husbands and wives should treat each other.
Great Bible Verses on Patience
1 Corinthians 13 is the chapter on love, describing what love is. In verse 4, love is described as being patient and kind.
Numbers 14:8 describes God as being slow to anger, which is one of the attributes of the characteristic of patience. We should follow God’s example, to be patient, slow to anger and quick to forgive.
Romans 15:5 tells us where to find patience. God gives it to us. When we are patient towards one another, allowing each one to act according to the way they were created, we will live in harmony together.
Bible Verses on Friendship
Since the beginning of time, before sin ruined the relationship between man and God, they had the perfect relationship. In the cool of the day, God would meet Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:8)
When Moses came down from the mountain with the stone tablets, his face was shining. Moses had to cover his face with a veil because of its radiance. Whenever he went into the tent of meeting to converse with God, he removed the veil (Exodus 34:34). Moses had face-to-face contact with God; the way friends communicate (Exodus 33:11).
Friendship was also important to Jesus Christ. In John 15:13-15 Jesus explained to his disciples that there is no greater love than when you are prepared to give up your life for your friends. Then Jesus continued to tell them that they were no longer slaves who obeyed a master, but they had become his friends. Jesus told them everything that the Father had told him. He shared with them in the same way we share important things with our friends.
When faith, patience and friendship are combined in the relationship between a husband and wife, it becomes the ideal marriage. Faith allows us to see each other through Jesus’s eyes. Patience gives each other space to be who you are created to be. Marriage based on friendship is built on a strong foundation.