WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T THROW THIS AWAY
HEBREWS 10:35-36
HEBREWS 10:35-36 NKJ
35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
It's a horrible feeling to have thrown away something of value. Without racking my memory too much, I can recall tossing contact lenses, retainers, and money. All of those were valuable and set off a chain of events that included digging through the trash. But hey, I can put up with chicken bones and coffee grounds to get back something of value.
The writer of Hebrews has been encouraging Jewish believers to stay with Jesus and not go back to the Jewish law. He has been expounding on the 'why' and now he shifts to the 'how'.
These verses are key "how to stay with God" verses. Don't throw away your confidence, your faith, in Jesus. These Jewish believers started with a confidence in Jesus as their Lord, Savior, and Messiah. So now that the heat is on and the pressure to back up has come, they have a choice. They can choose to stay with their confidence or toss it away.
The writer does not elaborate on what are the ramifications of walking away. He does express that keeping their confidence in Christ has great reward.
And then, he adds another "how to stay" principle. Endurance. Hold on to your confidence and keep holding. And keep holding, then hold some more. So that you will receive what God has promised.
Believe, keep believing, and don't quit. God is faithful, and rewards are coming.
APPLICATION
This passage was powerful two thousand years ago and still powerful today. When the heat is on and the pressure comes, we hold on to our confidence in God. His word, His Spirit, His promises are still the best route to take in life.
We in America are not typically facing the intense persecution that the believers faced in the book of Hebrews. But we are still faced with choices. Stay with our confidence in God or give in to the culture around us. Don't throw your confidence away. Keep believing. The road may not be easy, but the rewards are great.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, strengthen me and help me hold onto my confidence in You, Your word, and Your Holy Spirit. I will not quit.