Today's Verses: Hebrews 10:35-38 (ESV)
35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has xa great reward. 36 For yyou have need of endurance, so that zwhen you have done the will of God you may areceive what is promised. 37 For,
b“Yet a little while,
and cthe coming one will come and will not delay;
38 dbut my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
x ch. 2:2; 11:26
y ch. 12:1–7; Luke 21:19; Rom. 2:7; 12:12; See Matt. 10:22
z ch. 13:21; [1 John 2:17]
a ch. 11:39
b Isa. 26:20; Hag. 2:6; Luke 18:8
c Cited from Hab. 2:3, 4
d Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11
The Bible Reader's Companion reminds us that perseverance is the consequence of confidence. In other words, God often calls us to patiently endure by overcoming difficulty and withstanding pressure. Those Christians to whom the Letter to the Hebrews is addressed did just that. They remained faithful despite persecution, suffering, and imprisonment and were called to hold on until Jesus would come again.
Hymn of the Day: BE STILL, MY SOUL - Katharina von Schlegel, 1697–?
English Translation-Jane L. Borthwick, 1813–1897 (Click on title to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing this hymn. A more traditional version can be heard by clicking on this link)
Be still, my soul—the Lord is on thy side!
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
leave to thy God to order and provide—
In ev’ry change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul—thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul—thy God doth undertake
to guide the future as He has the past;
thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake—
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul—the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Osbeck, Kenneth W.: Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Kregel Publications, 1990, S. 28
Today's Comments: As I study for the class for my trip to Israel, I am reminded of the patience of King David. David lived in exile, being constantly pursued by the demented and paranoid King Saul. At least twice, he had the chance to become Israel's king by just running a spear through Saul's heart. And yet, David had the patience of a lion and would not kill God's anointed king, telling his men to wait until God, Himself should decide to intervene.
I am also reminded of the situation in my own church, where we have lost several members because they are impatient and want us to withdraw from the Episcopal Church because of its apostasy. Like David, during his exile from Saul, we have entered our own wilderness and must wait for God's instructions, not man's. Those who have left, I believe, have done so out of misunderstanding for what God's Church is. Denominations mean nothing to God, they are a creation of man. One might even be able to say that denominationalism, itself, is a heresy.
35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has xa great reward. 36 For yyou have need of endurance, so that zwhen you have done the will of God you may areceive what is promised. 37 For,
b“Yet a little while,
and cthe coming one will come and will not delay;
38 dbut my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
x ch. 2:2; 11:26
y ch. 12:1–7; Luke 21:19; Rom. 2:7; 12:12; See Matt. 10:22
z ch. 13:21; [1 John 2:17]
a ch. 11:39
b Isa. 26:20; Hag. 2:6; Luke 18:8
c Cited from Hab. 2:3, 4
d Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11
The Bible Reader's Companion reminds us that perseverance is the consequence of confidence. In other words, God often calls us to patiently endure by overcoming difficulty and withstanding pressure. Those Christians to whom the Letter to the Hebrews is addressed did just that. They remained faithful despite persecution, suffering, and imprisonment and were called to hold on until Jesus would come again.
Hymn of the Day: BE STILL, MY SOUL - Katharina von Schlegel, 1697–?
English Translation-Jane L. Borthwick, 1813–1897 (Click on title to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing this hymn. A more traditional version can be heard by clicking on this link)
Be still, my soul—the Lord is on thy side!
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
leave to thy God to order and provide—
In ev’ry change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul—thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul—thy God doth undertake
to guide the future as He has the past;
thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake—
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul—the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Osbeck, Kenneth W.: Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Kregel Publications, 1990, S. 28
Today's Comments: As I study for the class for my trip to Israel, I am reminded of the patience of King David. David lived in exile, being constantly pursued by the demented and paranoid King Saul. At least twice, he had the chance to become Israel's king by just running a spear through Saul's heart. And yet, David had the patience of a lion and would not kill God's anointed king, telling his men to wait until God, Himself should decide to intervene.
I am also reminded of the situation in my own church, where we have lost several members because they are impatient and want us to withdraw from the Episcopal Church because of its apostasy. Like David, during his exile from Saul, we have entered our own wilderness and must wait for God's instructions, not man's. Those who have left, I believe, have done so out of misunderstanding for what God's Church is. Denominations mean nothing to God, they are a creation of man. One might even be able to say that denominationalism, itself, is a heresy.
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