“Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word]; and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds,” (Hebrews 10:23-24)
As God inspires I’ve been clipping verses and putting them aside. This morning I was inspired by the first of these two verses. As I was prayerfully considering what God wanted me to write I happened to think that I’m writing this a couple of weeks ahead of when it will actually post and how much that God can change even in a moment of our lives. Do I write this with expectation or as a testament of answered prayer? I just feel that “YES” is an appropriate answer!
As I look over the scriptures that I’ve been snipping I see a theme running through them and I think that it is something for us all to remember.
“Remember this and stand firm,
recall it to mind, you transgressors,
remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I have purposed, and I will do it.”
A few more verses to carry on this theme are (Proverbs 19:21), (Isaiah 14:26-27) and (Job 42:2). Which all tell us that God’s plans will be accomplished regardless of what we say, think, or do. I don’t know about you but this is amazing encouragement even when my life is going well, even more when I need that encouragement the most. If I have these reminders and reassurance that God won’t allow anything to change His plans what does that say about promises that He made to me? Surely, I can be assured and have hope in His fulfillment of those as well!
As we transition into the Easter season I think that it’s also important to remember and dwell on our ultimate hope that is Christ Himself. As Christians we have even more reason to trust and hope in God, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
“In the same way God, in His desire to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable nature of His purpose, intervened and guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge would have strong encouragement and indwelling strength to hold tightly to the hope set before us. This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]—a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells],” (Hebrews 6:17-19)
It’s an amazing assurance to think that no matter what place we are in, within our lives that as Christians we have the ever present assurance of God’s Holy Spirit dwelling within us and that we are heirs to His promises. As long as the things we are waiting for are part of His plan for our lives we can have the assurance and hope that our God is faithful to His promises.
So whether you are still waiting, or whether you are celebrating, be encouraged by these truths today. Don’t stop there however, like Hebrews 10 verse 24 says “let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds“. Do you know someone else who needs encouragement today, do you need to show Jesus to someone around you?
Most High God, we come to You know in awe of You. We thank You for giving us these assurances and making us these promises. God we thank You that even though we live in a broken world full of darkness and uncertainty that we can stand on Your unchanging grace and sovereign faithfulness to Your promises. Help each and every person who reads these words to be encouraged by the message that You convey through them. All glory and honor and praise belong to You!!! We pray these things in Your Son Jesus Christ’s Holy Name. AMEN!
This Narrow Path... 