DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
AUGUST 1, 2026
READ: Hebrews 11 (Focus vs. 8-16)
MEMORY VERSE
“They were longing for a better country-a heavenly one” Hebrews 11:16
BACKGROUND
Michele experienced a mixture of emotions as her father neared the end of his life. She grieved when he said, “Honey, I won’t be here to walk you down the aisle.”
But she assured him of her love, clinging to the hope she found in Hebrews 11 as she said, “You’re heading for a better country, a country in heaven.” Michele believed that her dad, when he died, would be with God forever. She reflected, “Heaven will be that good!”
The letter to the Hebrews was aimed at Jewish believers in Jesus experiencing persecution by state and religious opponents. Although it was written before the destruction of the temple in ad 70, the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans may have occurred soon after.
In this climate of fear, the author urged the believers to hold firm to their faith as he highlighted a great “cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1). Each “did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance” (11:13).
They lived by faith, “longing for a better country—a heavenly one,” and God was pleased to be called their God, and “prepared a city for them” (v. 16).
Although Michele ached with sadness when her father died, she embraced the promises of her heavenly Father. We too can welcome these same promises “from a distance” (v. 13), trusting in God.
Amy Boucher Pye
INSIGHT
Hebrews 11 has been referred to as the “Hall of Faith” because everyone listed in the chapter is presented as a model of faith.
This makes sense because verse 6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Because our human effort to do good will always fall short of God’s standard (Ephesians 2:8-9), we’re dependent upon Him by faith. By faith we trust God now, and one day we’ll be in His eternal presence (John 3:16).
Bill Crowder
APPLICATION
How can you embrace God’s help and trust Him more today? How does the thought of heaven inform your hopes, dreams, and actions?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“…we’re dependent upon Him by faith. By faith we trust God now, and one day we’ll be in His eternal presence.”
PR’s TAKE
“…My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:2-3
“Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people” Anonymous
PRAYER
“Heavenly Father, please help me live knowing that You’re trustworthy and will one day welcome me home.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“WHEN THOU MY RIGHTEOUS JUDGE SHALT…”
When Thou, my righteous Judge, shalt come
To fetch Thy ransomed people home,
Shall I among them stand?
Shall such a worthless worm as I,
Who sometimes am afraid to die,
Be found at Thy right hand?
I love to meet among them now,
Before Thy gracious feet to bow,
Though vilest of them all;
But can I bear the piercing thought:
What if my name should be left out,
When Thou for them shalt call?
Prevent, prevent it by Thy grace;
Be Thou, dear Lord, my hiding-place,
In this the accepted day:
Thy pardoning voice, O let me hear,
To still my unbelieving fear,
nor let me fall, I pray.
Let me among Thy saints be found,
Whene’er the archangel’s trump shall sound
To see Thy smiling face;
Then loudest of the crowd I’ll sing,
While heaven’s resounding mansions ring
With shouts of sovereign grace.
