Verse of the Day 2/5

Verse of the Day 2/5

Hebrews 10:36-37

New International Version

36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,

"In just a little while,
    he who is coming will come
    and will not delay."

Our Tuesday Men's Bible study has been going through the book of 1 Thessalonians and yesterday we were in chapter 4 which begins the teaching on the events leading up to Jesus' second coming.  There will be trials and tribulations, but through it all we are called to persevere.

My wife Jean sent out a family newsletter at Christamas, knowing that it was going to be a challenging year to say the least, she said that it will be a year of perseverence. Today's verses remind us that in the challenges and trials of life, we need to hold onto what we believe and look with expectation for the day of His return.  Come Lord Jesus, come!

Pastor John Piper writes, "mainly we must focus on the preciousness of the promises and help each other value above all things how great the reward is that Christ has purchased for us. We must say to each other what Hebrews 10:35 says: "Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward." And then we must help each other see the greatness of the reward.....That is the main task of preaching, and the main purpose of small groups and all the ministries of the church: helping people see the greatness of what Christ has purchased for everyone who will value it above the world. Helping people see it and savor it, so that God's superior worth shines in their satisfaction and in the sacrifices that come from such a heart."

Through all seasons of the year, there is growth.  Even in winter you see growth. Crocuses often puch up throgh the snow, winter wheat and oats begin to grow and other plants that we may not even realize. So it is in our lives.  Those trials and challenges in our lives can also be times of growth in our lives, if we persevere.

God causes all things to grow
Through every season we know
He will guard the life
That He's planted in our souls
And when we feel the cold winds blow
We'll hold to what we know
God causes all things to grow

You know where I've failed
My weakness has been unveiled
And yet by grace you choose to love and to forgive
So come what may our home is here to stay
A witness to the lasting promise He has made.     (God Causes All Things to Grow - Steve Green)

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Hebrews 10:19-39

New International Version

A Call to Persevere in Faith

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[a] and again, "The Lord will judge his people."[b] 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 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.

36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,

"In just a little while,
    he who is coming will come
    and will not delay."[c]

38 And,

"But my righteous[d] one will live by faith.
    And I take no pleasure
    in the one who shrinks back."[e]

39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.