Hebrews 10:23, 35-36 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

I don’t think I’ve ever put these verses together like this before, but they make a very clear point. The devil is always trying to get Christians to give up, and sometimes he doesn’t have to try very hard! As came out in the message yesterday, rock solid assurance comes from knowing God. We don’t like to be told that what we need is patient endurance, but that is very often the case. This isn’t a constant focus on “the sweet bye and bye;” that causes us to overlook blessings in the here and now. Rather, it is an awareness that problems are temporary, no matter how acute, and that some day we will look back and know it was all worth it. Two songs come to mind: “If It Keeps Getting Better and Better,” and “I Wouldn’t take Nothing for my Journey Now.” The first points out that God’s blessings do pile up, but blessings by themselves aren’t the best thing for us. The second looks back on a life lived with the Lord and understands that even the trials are actually blessings in disguise, because God indeed “works everything for the good of those who love Him, who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

I have had a strong temptation to give up even recently, but thankfully I recognized where it came from and resisted it, and it passed pretty quickly. I keep remembering that being attacked simply means we’re giving the devil problems, and that’s a good thing! I have been delighted to see how things have played out in the US from the COO of Chick-fil-A making a clear statement on the Biblical standard of marriage, and that he stands by it. His corporate bottom line would rejoice at more such attacks! I don’t expect anything as high-profile as that in my own life, but that’s still a good reminder of the truth of today’s passage. As a pastor, this is a message I try to communicate to the believers, but sometimes they don’t really want to hear it. I am not to put them down for that, because I’ve been there myself, but I am to be gently, lovingly persistent in helping them get their focus on Christ instead of themselves, so that they may indeed receive all that God has promised.

Father, this is indeed an area in which I have a great deal of empathy for those who are struggling! I’m facing some things myself right now that I would rather not have to deal with, but I know that You are indeed faithful, and I just have to walk in obedience. This week has a lot in it already that I know about. Help me take each step in assured hope, knowing that Your plans are good, acceptable, and perfect, and all I have to do is follow You. Thank You. Praise God!