Hebrews 10:35
In Hebrews 10:35, we read, "Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward."
When the author of Hebrews wrote these words, he was referring to a particular group of Christians who were throwing away their faith in Jesus and returning to their Jewish faith because Christians were being persecuted. He was begging the people of the church not to give up their faith.
We live in a consumer society. When something isn't working, has faded, or has been knocked off its first-prize pedestal for "latest and greatest," most of us get rid of it. We throw it out or maybe put it in a pile of goods we can donate if we're feeling philanthropic. If the diet hasn't worked in three days, it's on to the next one. If the relationship loses the warm fuzzies, it's time to part ways. For the early Christians addressed in Hebrews, the persecution of believers was on the rise. Some of them, in order to be more accepted into society, watered down their beliefs to conform with culture. It was easier that way. But the author of Hebrews warned them not to.
"Do not throw away your confidence," he wrote. He was talking about a vertical confidence in who Jesus is—that He is the Son of God and that He died for our sins to reconcile us back to God. If you feel like the pressure is getting too hot, don't cut back and run. There's a reward for maintaining your confidence in Jesus: You get to live with Him and see Him face to face for eternity.
Questions to Ponder:
Are you thinking about getting rid of something?
Have you thought about watering down your beliefs to conform with culture?
Are you looking forward to seeing Him face to face?
In His Service,
Terry Phillips
