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.

Talking With and Reading The Word

John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” 

It’s been a constant, seasonal struggle for me to get into the Word. I’ve made a lot of excuses for it: I hear the Word on Sundays; I read other books that reference the Bible, that’s enough; it’s not relevant to me; it’s boring; I’m not entertained; I THINK about God… isn’t that enough? I’ve known in my soul that these are poor excuses, and I’ve certainly been missing the point. Reading the Word isn’t for my entertainment (though it can certainly be thrilling), and I really don’t get enough from secondhand resources- how could I be when I’m not looking into it, reading and seeing Truth for myself?? 

Recently, the encouragement to get to know Jesus more through reading the Bible has struck a chord in me like never before. In this passage, I’m even more encouraged by knowing that Jesus is the Word made flesh. If I want to know the flesh and blood Jesus more, then I need to read the ink and paper Word. Now, when I open my Bible, the passages are fresh- like I’m seeing them for the first time. The words of our amazing, awe-inspiring, mighty God that made the Universe- the WHOLE UNIVERSE- are right in front of me. And I get to read them! I get to replay in my mind how He might've said them, discover what was going on around Him at the time, how He must’ve been feeling. I get an intimate look into the One who brought light into this world. 

And you know what’s more exciting to me? Jesus is alive and well, then, now, and forever. So when I don’t quite understand something, or I have more questions, or I want to delight in Him and what I’ve just read about Him, I can talk with the living, breathing Word. My excuse of “it’s not relevant to me” flies out the window because I can ask Jesus how His word might apply to me. I get to talk about life on Earth with He who is the light that shines in the darkness, He who shines light into my own darkness, He who is the Word made flesh for each and every one of us to know. 

John 1:1-14

Encourage One Another

Hebrews 10:19-25

 

²⁴ Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. ²⁵ And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another… NLT

 

Recently I met my daughter at our church to rehearse for a duet that we are singing. Between the sheet music, a water bottle and, oddly enough, four bars of soap, she had her hands full. She had brought the soap to donate to a ministry to the poor that our church is supporting. Her example was motivating.

 

Fourteen years ago, when I was going through a very dark and difficult time, a friend met with me for lunch and asked if I would want to get together each week and pray for one another. As a result, virtually every week for the past fourteen years, we have met for breakfast and done just that.

 

There are many ways that we can encourage one another in our faith. Sometimes it happens by example like my daughter, and other times it is intentional like my friend.

 

The above verses follow a passage that describes the sacrificial system that the Hebrews had followed for centuries. The problem was that the animal sacrifices never really took away their sins; it was just a reminder of them. However, Jesus was the sacrificial lamb that, once and for all, took away our sins.

 

What does that mean for us today?

 

²² …let us go right into the presence of God… ²³ Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm… ²⁴ Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. ²⁵ And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another…  NLT

 

What Jesus did for us was a miracle. However, don’t discount what we can do for one another. In a very real way, it was just as much a miracle that my friend reached out to me during those dark times, and helped pull me through “right into the presence of God”. He was the hands and feet of Jesus to me.

 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2010%3A19-25&version=NIV;NLT
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Heb.10.19-Heb.10.25

 

 

 

 

 

 

Search My Heart

Philippians 2: 1-11 is one of my favorite passages in scripture. My bible is filled with notes on this page. I love how it lists benefits we receive being a follower of Christ; encouragement, fellowship, tenderness and compassion.  I experience these wonderful benefits most, when I am around other believers.

The passage immediately gives us a challenge. God doesn’t want us to only stay around situations where we only experience these benefits. We are called to take those benefits and serve others.  As a Christian this shouldn't be a surprise.  We hear and read that our job is to serve.  But, this is where a lot of us struggle.

I think there are three kinds of Christians when it comes to serving others.  

1. The one who “gets” it.  Serving seems to flow from them.  It is who they are. They give of themselves freely.
2. The one who serves but it just doesn’t seem or feel natural.  They serve because they know it is what God wants.
3. The one who leaves serving to others.  They will give their money and donate items to their church or community outreach projects, but they think they are not gifted to serve.

No matter where you may fall, I believe we can all check our heart with regards to serving. If you relate to the third example, let me encourage you. I have not read anywhere in the bible where serving others is only for those naturally gifted to do so.

God has called you to serve!  Philippians 2: 5-7 tells us, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus...he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant…”

I think the rub comes with, WHO and HOW do we serve…

WHO do we serve?  Paul says in Philippians, “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit...consider others better than yourself.”  

If we have a hard time serving, we have possibly put ourselves in a higher position than the one we are called to serve. Is there a particular group of people or even a singular person, you think you're better than? I know this is a hard question, but spend some time honestly searching your heart.  Take time to pray about it, asking God to reveal the truth.

When you see who it is you put “below” yourself, THIS is WHO you should serve.

So, HOW should we serve? Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

In humility.  This is hard.  The easiest way to serve in humility is when we've been humbled. It can feel very humbling when we realize we put ourselves before so many others.  This is a good place to start. It will take HUMILITY and faith, and when you are not sure you can do it, remember; Jesus did it for you.

1 John 2:15-28

Fight the Good Fight!

We have been told not to fight, or at least not to throw the first punch, but self-defense is acceptable and condoned in most circles. The announcers of a boxing match can be heard using the term “good fight.”  That seems to mean strategic moves are utilized, and the participants are somewhat evenly matched in order to prolong the competition to entertain the audience.

As I read today's words about not loving the world and warning of the antichrists, I heard the words in my head from a song by the group Unspoken. 

The title is “Good Fight” and speaks directly to us from God’s perspective. The lyrics encourage  us to keep fighting and letting God's light shine. The message is that although the world is hard on us and we are under attack, God will never leave us. This fight is one worth fighting and though it is sometimes too much to bear it is a fight God wants us to take part in and win!

In 1 John 2:15-28, John's letter includes words of warning about the world, but also encouragement, support, reassurance, inspiration and hope, just as the lyrics of "Good Fight."

Please listen to the song “Good Fight”

Please read/listen to 1 John 2:15-28

Acts 20:1-12

Encouragement is something we all need in big doses.  Encouragement is a spiritual gift; is it one you possess?  People with this gift are a true gift to those of us who cross their path.  A kind word of assurance or inspiration goes a long way some days.  It can make the difference between having a good day or not.

Paul had the gift of encouragement, as he spent much of his time helping the new believers, reinforcing the faith and work being accomplished in the churches he helped to start.  He would praise their efforts, cheering them on while the same time teaching them when they needed more instruction.

When Paul came to town he was probably sought out for advise and perhaps even for a brainstorming session or two.  Studying the book of Acts brings to light just how much Paul did to promote The Way everywhere he went.

When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia. He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, where he stayed three months. (Acts 20:1-3)


Who has encouraged you lately on your walk?  Is there someone you can give an atta' boy today?  It could make a big difference in their day.  I am going to try it.

Read Acts 20:1-12 here.

Need a Lift? Acts 18:1-17

We all need encouragement at times.  When someone we respect says things to us that build us up doesn't it make a difference in the way we act or respond to situations?  When I was a new Christian there was a woman who always found something good to say to me.

She made an effort to watch me and find something she could praise.  She obviously could read people and their body language for she had me pegged as one who needed to be reassured of my value.  It was her attentiveness that first impacted me and brought me back to church again and again.

Paul has had a rough time of things lately.  He was scorned, stoned, jailed and run out of town.  Anyone would begin to doubt themselves and their ability to carry out the mission God gave them.  Then, God spoke to Paul.  It must have been just what the doctor ordered.


One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. (Acts 18:9-11)


Those times when I need a boost, a shot in the arm, I turn to the scriptures, ask God to speak and sure enough He does.  By the time I am finished reading, praying and journaling, a theme surfaces and my path becomes clearer and my confidence is soaring.  God is so good.

Read Acts 18:1-17 here.