32 Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. [j] 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.
37 “For in just a little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.
38 And my righteous ones will live by faith. [k]
But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”[l]
39 But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved. Hebrews 10:32-39 NLT
It’s been twelve days on this present assignment. My prayer was that my testimonies based on the passages from God’s word that have come alive for me – would bless you! I don’t believe that we sojourn on this earthly journey alone – nor only for ourselves! We have been blessed – to be a blessing!
I have saved my second life verse for last (Isaiah 54:17 has been the main verse – this passage above is second). It has never failed that when I was weary, or afraid, or knowing my faith was at a low ebb that I would invariably open to this passage of scripture and be reminded – that the just shall live by faith – and if any man draw back – God would have no pleasure in him. Knowing my track record B.C. (before Christ) and feeling like I needed every ounce of favor A.C. (after Christ) – I knew that I. number! didn’t need to rejoin the unjust (I had given enough of my life to that group) – nor did I need to have God having no pleasure in me – so the best thing I could do was press on – hold on – and believe on!
Can I tell you – it has worked! No, not instantly, each time I lost ground, I had to climb back up the lost ground- and then keep climbing to gain the new ground that God wanted me to take! I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings – but this is one school you can’t skip grades – each test must be taken until it is passed!
Soon you get to the point as my daughter did one year and say – this year there will be NO DO-OVERS! It is then you recognize that not only has He been there all the time – but if God be for you (and He is) – He is more than the world against you! You begin to soar like an eagle, and one day you try to remember when the last time you had a test – because facing obstacles and being a giant killer becomes second nature.
That’s the part I want to leave you with this year of 2008 – there is an end to the struggle – and that end comes when you stop fighting God and start letting Him be “the light unto you path”, and “that voice in your ear saying turn to the right or the left”. Jesus told us to take His yoke upon us and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly and we would find rest for our souls – because His yoke is easy and His burden is light ( you look these up – they will bless you).
Thank you for spending some time with me during this season and next year (5 days from now) we hope to have a surprise announcement!
God Bless You; Have a Glorious End to 2008 and a Gigantic Expectancy for 2009!
Maria