Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Encouraging Words

What is faith? Many people make fun of those of us who put our faith in God. But every single one of them put their faith in something or someone. As humans, we were created to put our faith in some­thing other than ourselves. This verse provides a great definition of what faith is. The power in the Christian life is the Person that we have put our faith in, our God, the Father, the son, and the Holy Spirit. This is what makes this verse encouraging. Our God is who we put our hope in and who has demonstrated time and time again that He is our hope. He is our evidence of things not seen. Glory be to God!

Hebrews 10:35-36

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

Personal Challenge

We can be confident in our Lord and that He will always be there for us. Unfortunately, as the pressures of this world encroach upon our lives, that confidence can be clouded and wain. We must continue to hold onto Him and His promises so that He can build up that confidence and give us the endurance that we need to push on. Glory be to God!

Hebrews 10:23-25

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Encouraging Words

We live in a world where we often get betrayed or disappointed by those whom we thought we could trust. This is because we are all human and continue to make mistakes. We can be encouraged though that our Lord is always faithful. He will not change and He will not abandon us. By holding on to Him and this promise it becomes easier to reach out to others and put our trust into them. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

Hebrews 4:14-16

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Encouraging Words

Jesus did not die on the cross to turn away the anger of a judgmental God. Jesus, coming from heaven to be incarnated as a human, came to be one with us in the flesh, fully God and fully human. He lived a human life, dealing with temptations that we all deal with, but never being overtaken by them. He lived a sinless life. He willingly went to the cross so that He could die as a human. He then resurrected from that death as a human in His glorified form destroying the chains of death that were shackled to all humans. He did this to make way for us to follow Him into resurrected lives, defeating death. Glory be to God!

Hebrews 4:13

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Personal Challenge

One big mistake that we humans often make is to do something that we know is wrong when no one is watching. It may be minor or even major. First of all, this calls into question our integrity. But more importantly, we must remember that our God knows all and sees all. There is no hiding anything from. He knows even our thoughts and yet He still loves us and forgives us of our sins and trespasses. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy/ Lord, have mercy!

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Encouraging Words

Our Father in heaven gave us every­thing that we need to make through every situation that life will throw at us. He gave us His word, which is three­fold. His Word is Jesus, His only begotten Son and Gods’ living word. He gave us the scriptures, which we can read, study, and follow. He gave us the teachings and wisdom of the saints, those who have gone before us, who have taught us from Gods’ word. This word of God is alive and all-powerful. Glory be to God!

Hebrews 4:9-10

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

Encouraging Words

There will be a day for all of us who are followers of Christ where we will enter into His rest. Before we do that we will continue to do His work just as God has done His work. This rest will be perfect and eternal, a rest that is filled with love, mercy, and grace. Glory be to God!

Hebrews 3:13

but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Personal Challenge

We are encouraged by the author of Hebrews to be exhorting one another, building each other up. If we do not do this on a regular basis, then we take the risk of becoming hardened toward one another and our God. By exhorting and lifting up each other we are bringing the love of God to those around us. Glory be to God!