Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.
Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times. – Martin Luther
When we talk about self-denial we must talk about faith, for what reason is there to deny ourselves and follow Christ without trusting in God’s faithfulness to us?
The ancients in this passage are the various people of the Old Testament who followed after God and denied themselves. Abraham denied himself and moved to a foreign land. David denied himself and refused to kill Saul and take power, but waited for the proper time to ascend to the throne. Heroes of the faith have to deny themselves.
Every day we have to make choices between the way of the world and the way of the Kingdom. Ask God to give you the assurance that his way is better and a hopeful confidence in the Christian life.