Tuesday, November 16, 2021

When the Going Gets a Little Rocky

 

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Think back on those early days when you first learned about  Christ.  Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.  Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things.  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.  So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord.  Remember the great reward it brings you!  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.  

Hebrews 10:32-36

The writer of this message to the Hebrews[1] reminds them how difficult things were when they first came to the saving knowledge of Christ.  They found out the meaning of persecution and hardship through public humiliation, beatings, jail time, and having all their possessions confiscated by the government for following Jesus.  That’s a wee bit eye-opening for those of us who think tough times are when we’re forced to downgrade from a Mercedes to a Ford.

But the Apostle encourages them to not abandon the eternal rewards awaiting them in glory for a little bit of comfort in the here and now.  How misguided it would be, even if you must walk, to throw away your keys and title to the Rolls Royce awaiting you at the end of a little trouble on the rocky road.  Hard times are relative; a little suffering now is worth it all for the glory that never fades away.

One thing the apostle doesn’t forget in his encouragement is telling his readers how to get through the rocky times…develop patient endurance to do God’s will.  

For You Today

Patient endurance isn’t a matter of toughing-it all on your own; rather it is learning “patiently” to wait on God’s gift of what you need on the inside to continue in obedience to His will.  For any of us that is becoming as the Roman official who begged Jesus to heal his son…beginning with prayer that owns the trouble we have with faith to endure:  I believe…help me in my doubting.[2]

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!  

[1] Title and Other Images:  Pixabay.com  Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©   

For another post on this theme see I Believe in Me - Nov 23, 2018



[1] Many scholars attribute authorship to Apostle Paul



 

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