Unswerving Hope

Hebrews 10:23-25

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.”  Unswervingly is such a wonderfully descriptive word!  Other versions say, “hold fast and not waver” or “no room for doubt,” but I love the use of unswervingly in the NIV.  It makes me stop and think though… do I hold unswervingly to hope; to the salvation that God has promised?

Often, I let hope slip through my hands.  I lay in bed and stare at my phone, reading negative word after negative word.  The world feels like a scary place, absent of grace, which makes me want to pull the covers over my head and hide.

So, what keeps you going?  What is it that makes you wake up each day and put one foot in front of the other?

Hopefully in addition to your loving Father, you have people in your life who spur you on and encourage you.  We need each other now more than ever.  In a world that promotes distance and disconnection, God wants us to reach out and not lose hope.  He wants us to “not give up on meeting together” because he knows how important fellowship can be.  When nourished, love blossoms.

So Father, may I hold unswervingly to your promises and encourage others to do the same.  When I see someone struggling, fill me with an overabundance of grace to share.  And in a world that wants to tear us down, may I be an encouragement to others and build them up so they can throw back the covers and step into each new day, strengthened by your love.

Voice of the Martyrs

http://www.icommittopray.com/

Hebrews 10:32-35

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 

Have you ever had to suffer because of your faith? Have you ever been publicly exposed to insult and persecution? Our scripture passage today from Hebrews 10 is one that I admit, I can't relate to. 

I have never lived in a place where being Christian was cause for such conflict. Sure there are tensions today toward the church, but we still live in a free country where being a Christian is accepted. Others though, are not as lucky. I thought it would be good to share a story from, Voice of the Martyrs website, The following true story was posted on September 14th.

"Police in India arrested nine adults traveling with a group of 60 children to a Vacation Bible School (VBS) program this summer. The children and their chaperones sang Christian songs and read the Bible as they traveled by train, attracting the attention of a group of Hindu extremists. As soon as the train reached its destination, the militants called the police. When the police arrived, they arrested the adults and called the children’s parents to come pick them up. The adults were charged with kidnapping and converting people to another religion by force. After more than 40 days in jail, three of the adults were released on bail. The other six, however, are still being held. Pray that the jailed Christians will be released and that this experience will strengthen the faith of the children involved."

Here is another posted on September 14th.

“Vu” placed her faith in Christ earlier this year while working in the Laotian capital of Vientiane. Several months later, she shared her faith with her parents and brother in hope that they, too, would become Christians. Instead, they cursed her. They insisted that she abandon her Christian faith immediately or they would disown her as their daughter. Vu told them that she respected them but would not leave Jesus. Her parents later sent her brother and sister to persuade her to leave Christianity, but instead her sister became a Christian. “The younger sister is a new person now,” a VOM contact said. Please pray for these two young women as they minister to their family and encounter further hardships because of their faith.

If you, like me, have never had to endure such persecution we have much to be thankful for.  Let's take some time and pray for those who do struggle daily to stand firm in Christ.  Click here to read more stories and pray for those who are being persecuted.

Read today's entire passage here. HEBREWS 10:32-29