June 16 – Daily Devotional

31 May June 16 – Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

FAITHFULNESS

Hebrews 10:36-39 “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. For, “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.” And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.”

Persecution and believing in Jesus often go together.  In the United States persecution of Christians in most instances is quite mild compared to especially Muslim countries.  Let’s face it, persecution of any kind is not something you would put on your bucket list.  Who wants to endure beatings, imprisonment and gruesome torture leading to death.  I don’t know about you, but I would much prefer dying peacefully in my sleep.

The immediate recipients of the words of the writer of Hebrews were Christians undergoing severe persecution. Yes, some of their fellow believers had been put to death because of their faith in Jesus.  Some were under the threat of death.  Many were suffering greatly because they boldly confessed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The Devil thought Job remained faithful to God because God had blessed him with immense wealth .  . . after Satan, with God’s permission, took all of Job’s wealth away, including his family. . . Job remained faithful to God.  Satan was wrong.  Job’s faith was in Yahweh and His promises, not in the things of this earth.

Faithfulness to God and faith in God go together.  Today’s devotional verses say this in these words, “. . . my righteous one will live by faith . . . we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.”  Nothing is able to separate a believer from God’s love for them in Christ Jesus their Lord. (Romans 8:39)

Prayer:  I am trusting You Lord, Jesus, trusting only You.  Trusting you for full salvation . . . Amen.

How firm a foundation, O saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith In His excellent Word!

What more can He say than to you He has said

Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

“Fear not! I am with you, O be not dismayed,

For I am your God and will still give you aid;

I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

“The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose

I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no never, no never, forsake.

“When through fiery trials your pathway will lie,

My grace, all-sufficient, will be your supply.

The flames will not hurt you; I only design

Your dross to consume and your gold to refine.

“Throughout all their lifetime My people will prove

My sov’reign, eternal, unchangeable love;

And then, when gray hairs will their temples adorn,

Like lambs they will still in My bosom be borne.”

(LSB 728)