June 20, 2025 | Be God's Family
Confidence to Persevere No Matter What
Scripture: Hebrews 10:32-39(NIV)
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.”
38 And,
“But my righteous one will live by faith.
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”
39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Devotional
When I read Hebrews 10:32-39 I remembered the choices the disciples made when they followed Jesus. I sometimes have felt that I didn’t deserve the love and sacrifice Jesus made for me. I thought about times when I should have witnessed for Jesus Christ and did not do so. Maybe I thought it would take too long. Maybe I thought I might embarrass either myself or the person I would be witnessing to. Whatever the reason, I later decided that I made a mistake by not taking advantage of the opportunity to share. Now, I call those missed opportunities “practice” and I have decided that the next time I won’t keep silent.
I think we have chances to share our stories with others and, in taking that opportunity, I might have to leave myself vulnerable. My story might be the reason another person might choose to listen to the Word. That might give them the incentive to give Christianity a chance (or another chance). They may have been turned off in the past. They may have rejected even listening to a sermon or a story. My being vulnerable might just be the opening Christ needs to reach that person.
I guess I may not have to risk my life to witness but I may have to let myself become uncomfortable sometime.
Dear Lord Jesus, give me the strength to not shy away from opportunities that you put in front of me to share my story and help others to see and hear about your love. Amen.
Poem
I Am Confident!
Psalm 23
Because the LORD is my Good Shepherd
I am confident that He will supply my every need…
Psalm 23:1
On Spring days
When winds blow
When tornadoes threaten
When dead branches are shaken and fall
When rains flood
I am confident in hearing my Good Shepherd’s voice which can calm the storms
I am confident, hidden in the depths of my Savior’s heart
I am confident new life is just waiting to become green pastures
I am confident my Shepherd has set the boundaries and has me safe in His fold
On Summer days
When sun beats down by day
When plaguing pests swarm
When heart’s soil cracks from drought
When the weedy cares of life threaten fruitfulness
I am confident neither sun nor moon shall smite me
I am confident oil will anoint my head
I am confident I will be led to living water
I am confident my Shepherd will release my horns from the brambles
On Autumn days
When the harvest is white
When the storerooms are bulging
When the grapes and olives yield their juice
When the days grow shorter
I am confident there will be laborers to join me in the field
I am confident a great banquet will be set before me
I am confident I will see and taste the goodness of God
I am confident my Good Shepherd will call me to Sabbath rest
On Winter days
When vines dry and shrivel
When temperate friends become cold
When warmth is scarce
When hoary frost threatens life
I am confident in the Vine in whom I abide
I am confident I will never be forsaken
I am confident the Spirit’s Pillar of Fire will guide me through cold nights
I am confident I will dwell safely in my Good Shepherd’s fold forever
