DEVOTION – DAY 291

Hebrews 10:23-25 “Remain Firm In Our Faith”

 

Hebrews 10:23-25 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

 

God expects us to persevere in our faith. In Heb.10:23-25, the writer encourages us to hold unswervingly or firmly to our hope or faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Just as the Lord is faithful, He expects us to be faithful. There will be times when our faith is challenged, but the Lord expects us to hold on to our faith. It is easy to be faithful and say that God is good when everything we do goes smoothly. It is much harder to continue to remain faithful, and say God is good, when we face health challenges, financial burdens, job losses, marital breakdowns, brokenness, disappointments and failures.

 

God knows it is hard for us to keep our faith when we face challenges. It is important that when Christians face difficulties, they are to continue to meet up with fellow Christians and to go to church regularly. They can seek the prayer support of other Christians and encouragement through God’s Word either through sermons, or through group Bible Study. Christians are encouraged to love each other and do good deeds to help fellow Christians especially those facing tough times. God knows that Christians when they face difficulties may be tempted to stay away from church, to withdraw within themselves. They may try to solve their own problems themselves. They think they have no mood to go to church, or they have no time for church. That is why God has given us Heb.10:23-25 to remind us that in tough times, instead of withdrawing from church, we should go to church. We need the encouragement, support and prayers of fellow Christians.

 

A man’s wife left him for another man, leaving him to raise their two sons alone. He was deeply affected. But he knew he had to be strong for the sake of his two sons. He had to find strength from somewhere to cope with his marriage failure and the emotional pain. He turned to his church and sought the help of his pastor and fellow members. He found their prayer support comforting. Some members offered practical help. Someone offered to help fetch his sons after school and see to their lunch since her own child went to the same school. His faith was strengthened and he remained faithful even though he faced a tough time.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for being faithful and reminding us that we are faithful, just as you are always faithful. Please help us to persevere in our faith, love others and do good deeds and to build up your church no matter what our circumstances may be. We ask this in the great name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. When you face challenges, what is your natural reaction? Will you draw closer to the Lord and to your church, or do you turn away from the Lord and your church, blaming God for not helping you?
  2. How might these verses in Heb.10:23-25 encourage to draw closer to God when you face difficulties? Who can you turn to for prayer support and encouragement in church?
  3. How have you been ministered to in the past in church because you faced a crisis? Share.