Sunday 25 March, 2018

32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” 38 And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us of a couple of very important things.

Firstly, we should never believe that we are the only one experiencing struggles and hardships. Every believer will at some point experience these. And the reason is simple – we follow Christ. We learned about him, believed in him, and chose to follow him. That puts us in opposition to the world.

Secondly, that we should hang in there because we also learnt of the prize that awaits us, the promise made by Christ – the forgiveness of sin, restoration with the Heavenly Father and eternal life, and that’s just a start.

So, while today’s struggles are hard, don’t forget the past, because we are still here, they were not our end. And in our struggles today also remember the promise that waits for those who don’t give up, because it’s worth it.

Father, I know there are times when I have wanted to quit, and I thank you for the believers who encouraged me through those times. I thank you for the promises that you have made to all of us who don’t give up, so I choose again today, to keep my eyes on you, following you, because you are worth it.

Written by Andrew Martin