Be Courageous

Scripture: Hebrews 10:32-36 (NLT)

³² Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. ³³ Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. ³⁴ You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.

³⁵ So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! ³⁶ Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

 

Devotion

            The scripture above is a call for believers to be steadfast and courageous in the face of persecution. It is a word of God for our times. Even though we do have anywhere near the level of persecution that these first believers faced, we still would do well to heed the author’s words. Because I fear that our persecution will get worse for us in the days ahead. Then we will need the comfort and encouragement these words provide.

            The first thing that the writer wants his readers to do is to remember the days after they first believed. Apparently, there was great persecution during that time. So, the believers had an extremely tough time living out their faith. We should remember the days when we first became believers. Perhaps we suffered the questioning of our faith by some closest to us. Believing in Christ never comes without some cost to us. We must remember our first love is Jesus and what he did for us at calvary. Enduring the shame and humiliation of his cross because of the victory promised in his resurrection.

            While none of us has been thrown in jail for our faith we can think of believers in other parts of the world who are routinely jailed for the crime of being a Christian. The day may be coming in America when we too will find ourselves facing this kind of persecution. We should be heartened by the words of this scripture that no matter what happens to us we can remain steadfast in our faith because we have the promise of better things to come.

            We are called to patient endurance to follow Jesus no matter the cost to us. We are to be faithful knowing that our reward will be great on the day of judgement. We should not throw away what we have gained in Christ for any temporary comfort we might receive by deserting the faith. Let us pray for that courage now:

Prayer:

            Father in heaven, thank you for the gift of your son. We rejoice in the knowledge of our salvation in him. Train us, Father, to keep our focus on Jesus and the great salvation you have prepared for those who overcome the world and its temptations. Let us pray a prayer of thanksgiving for what has been prepared for us as our reward in heaven. We ask for courage and endurance to live our lives for you. Amen.