03/08/07

Holding Onto Hope

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23)
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19)

The writer of Hebrews must have loved eating salad. No less than 16 times in 13 chapters the author uses the phrase, "Let us." (You know, lettuce?)

My feeble attempt at humor underscores one important point. Study the 16 salad Scriptures in Hebrews and you will be richly rewarded. Start with Hebrews 10:23.

Hold: To grasp something with all of our might.

Unswervingly: Never to waver or break under pressure.

Hope: The certain expectation of something good.

Profess: To declare with conviction.

Promised: To enter into a binding agreement.

Faithful: Someone who can be trusted beyond question, who always delivers on His promises.

Toss it all together and here is what we get: We declare with absolute confidence that no matter how overwhelming our challenges, how pressing our problems, how torturous our trials, we know beyond all doubt that we can trust God to fulfill His every commitment. He will never let us down.

The next time you spoon up some fresh vegetables, remember to chew on this 'salad' Scripture and rejoice in its truth.

[ Reference Scriptures ]

Hebrews 10:19-25
¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ²⁵ Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)