HOLD FAST

Hebrews 10:23-25

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 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. Hebrews 10:23-25

Tragically, we find ourselves in an age in which our culture is intent on calling evil good, and good evil, exchanging darkness for light, and light for darkness, putting bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. We find ourselves in a time in which Christian values are ridiculed as intolerant and oppressive and thus we are oppressed and not tolerated. In a time, such as this, how should we, the church, respond? Today we shall learn that we must not lose hope, we must stir up one another, and we must be the church.

When we read a passage of scripture like this one, I trust that we have the same reaction. We think, "Wow, the more things change, the more they stay the same." This passage was written nearly two thousand years ago and yet it could have been written yesterday. In the face of all of the bad news that constantly streams into our lives, all that we hear about, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and economic uncertainty, the writer encourages us to "hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who has promised is faithful."

When Christian leaders wonder what the heart of the faith is, when even Christians seem so divided, when we look out into the culture and wonder where the faith fits, the writer reminds us to keep it simple. "Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds. When we look at the life of a local congregation, what people actually do with their time, from Sunday worship to finding opportunities to bring people together in groups, the writer cautions us to "not neglect to meet together." Which is a challenge today just as much as it was already a challenge in the first century, "as is the habit of some."

Today is the day to dig deep into the treasury of God's Word for sustaining power, strength, faith, courage, and everlasting hope. We have an assurance today that the One we have hope in, the One who made an agreement with us through Jesus Christ, is our faithful God. Hold on to your faith and never give up. Wait, I say on the Lord with great expectations because He never disappoints. There is peace in the midst of life's storms. Trust Jesus and let your faith abound in His everlasting peace on today!!!

Father, thank You for this day and for loving us so much that while we were still dead in our trespasses and sins. Christ completed His finished work on the cross so by grace through faith in Him, we might have forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. Lord, let Your abundant blessings flow over us today. Lord, thank You for those who taught us about You and who demonstrated Your love in their own lives, provoking us to love and good works in our own lives.

Father, we love You. Amen.