“Cast not away, therefore, your confidence, which has great recompense of reward—for you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the Promise.”
Hebrews 10:35-36
Patient perseverance in pursuit of His precious Prize; that’s the Message for today.
What do you need today, Pilgrim? If God would grant you one “wish” or “sincere desire of your heart” (Ps. 37:4), what would it be?
More money? A better car? A bigger house? Nicer clothes? More secure retirement portfolio?
And, if you had those, would you feel more satisfied, serene and secure? Or would there still be a nagging sense of “longing and lacking”?
If you’re a child of God and student of His Word, you know the answer, don’t you?
Most assuredly you do—for there’s nothing or no one who can fill the emptiness of heart or ease the anxiousness of mind except Jesus, God’s “most Precious Treasure in cracked pots of clay” (II Cor. 4:7).
The recipients of Hebrews were most likely Jewish-Christians undergoing severe persecution. Their homes were being burned. Their businesses were being boycotted and shut down. Some were being beaten and imprisoned. Some were being killed.
And, it was getting worse.
However. . .however. . .if they’d simply bow down to “the powers that be”. . .and simply recant their faith—i.e., deny that Jesus is Lord. . .they could “live happily ever after” and everything would be coming up roses (or so they were told).
But, once again, in today’s Manna, the writer reminds them of what he’d reminded them of before: “Give more careful attention to the things which you’ve heard and don’t let them slip through your fingers or drift away” (Heb. 2:1). . .“Don’t neglect the things the Lord said, which were confirmed by those that heard Him” (2:3). . .“Don’t harden your heart during difficult times because of the deceitfulness of sin, end up grieving the holy heart of God and miss out on what He’s prepared for you” (3:7-19). . . “Don’t turn away from the One Who saved you and what you know is true and become a forsaken, barren field instead of the fertile, fruitful field you were intended to be” (6:1-8).
“Yes,” he continued, “Don’t cast away your confidence (Grk. ‘parrhesia’—‘outspokenness, frankness, boldness, assurance, etc.’), which has great recompense of reward (Grk. ‘misthapodosia’—‘requital, repayment, remuneration, compensation, etc.’).”
Simply put, don’t throw away God’s Treasure for the world’s temporary trash. Hang onto it as you remember the Lord Jesus is hanging onto you. Throw away wishful thinking, but cling tenaciously to “pleasing/saving faith” (Heb. 11:6). Stay in God’s Will even as a faithful soldier stays at his post of duty in battle. His Presence will sustain you even as His Promised Reward awaits you (II Tim. 4:6-8). Be patient, Pilgrim. The Morning Light I see.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated March 16, 2011
