Hebrews 10:23
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Perhaps more than ever before, it is vital that we persevere in the faith. Thankfully, by the gift of salvation and God’s precious Holy Spirit, we can do so. Hebrews 10:19-23 reminds us that we have confidence to enter the most holy place. This Greek word, parrēsian, for confidence, means we have assured, bold, and free access to the presence of God. Is that amazing, or what?
Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, there is no longer that boundary that stood between the Father and us. Because of the blood of Jesus shed for us, we can go directly into His presence at any time! The Father has made this new way open to us, providing His own body, and the sacrifice of animals is no longer required. Jesus is now our great High Priest!
So, now what is our duty but to draw near to God, seeking Him in prayer, Bible study, and obedience? As we do so, He draws near to us (James 4:8). Imagine the one who created the universe and everything within it drawing near to us as we seek His presence. We are truly blessed! Yet our hearts must be sincere with “the full assurance that faith brings” (Hebrews 10:22). The motives of our hearts should be right, with faith, “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
We are no longer to carry a guilty conscience, as our bodies have been washed with pure water. Some would attribute this to water baptism, while others would attribute it to spiritual purification by the Holy Spirit and the “washing” of the soul by the Word of God. Or others, both.
Hebrews 10:23 tells us to hold onto the hope we profess unswervingly; the Greek word aklinē, meaning not leaning, unbending, or steadfast. Merriam-Webster defines it as “acting in a constant, steady, and dedicated manner without turning aside or wavering. It describes doing something directly or maintaining loyal, firm support without interruption.” What might this look like for each of us?
Do we esteem Him for who He is, God Almighty, the great I Am? Do we carve out some time to spend with Him daily? Do we genuinely seek His will and wisdom for our lives, and are we obedient when He provides them? I’m asking myself these questions. He’s so loving and kind to us. He deserves our best behavior.
Nevertheless, the Lord is faithful, even when we are not (2 Timothy 2:13). Thankfully, he will strengthen us and protect us from the evil one, as stated in 2 Thessalonians 3:3. Psalm 91:4 tells us, He will cover us with His feathers, and under His wings we’ll find refuge; his faithfulness will be our shield and rampart. So, needless to say, according to the Bible, we can fully place our confidence in God.
Since we have such a wonderful faith, let us continue to persevere, positioning ourselves to never forget the Lord our God is God; the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments (Deuteronomy 7:9).
Ms. Rita's Minute 