AUGUST 21, 2014
A
Word For The Struggler
Read: Hebrews
10:32-39
Do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. —Hebrews 10:35
There is an old adage
that says, “Don’t bite off more than you can chew.” It’s wise not to take on more
responsibilities than we can handle. At some time, however, we will likely feel
overwhelmed by the size and difficulty of a task we have agreed to do.
This can happen even
in our walk of faith in Christ when our commitment to God seems too much to bear.
But the Lord has an encouraging word for us when our confidence wavers.
The writer of Hebrews
urged his readers to recall the courage they demonstrated during the early days
of their faith (10:32-33). Despite public insults and persecution, they aided
believers in prison, and they joyfully accepted the confiscation of their own
property (vv.33-34). With that in mind, he says, “Therefore, do not cast away
your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so
that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise”
(vv.35-36).
Our confidence is not
in ourselves but in Jesus and His promise to return at just the right time
(v.37).
It is God’s power that
enables us to continue in our journey of faith. Recalling the Lord’s
faithfulness in days past stirs our confidence in Him today.
When life becomes a
heavy load,
An upward climb, a
winding road,
In daily tasks, Lord,
let me see
That with me You will
always be. —D. DeHaan
Trusting God’s
faithfulness stirs up our confidence.
Insight
Severely opposed and
persecuted, Jewish Christians were pressured to abandon Christianity and to
revert to Judaism. The unnamed writer of Hebrews encouraged them to continue in
the faith by affirming the preeminence, superiority, and sufficiency of Christ
through His person and position (Heb. 1–4) and His work of propitiation (chs.
5–10). He also warned them against rejecting Christ (2:1-3; 3:7-15; 6:4-6).
Here, in his final exhortation, he reminded them of their exemplary
faithfulness in enduring the mistreatments thus far (10:32-34) and of the great
reward that would be theirs if they persevered (vv.35-36). He was confident
that they would succeed (v.39).
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
