"Remember those earlier days....Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison.., because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So don't throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded." (From Hebrews 10:32-35, NIV)
The Amplified Bible says of this last phrase, "it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward." In short, our text seems to be saying, "You've been through too much to give up now."
The reason people have endure public, "insult and persecution," and, "stood side by side with those who were so treated," and, "suffered along with those in prison," is that they know they have, "better and lasting possessions," literally, "goods." Not only is what and Whom we have in Jesus Christ now, here, in this life, "better," in Jesus Christ we have, "lasting possessions;" they are of the Eternal. If you and I live as Jesus called us to live, "If any man serves Me, let him follow me; and where I am, there My servant will be also-------It will be richly rewarded."
Again, most of Christendom today does not speak of such things. Modern religionists believe it is too "retro" to speak of Heaven, the rewards of the Believer in Jesus Christ. Yet the Bible is full of such references, and while walking The Land in the first century, Jesus spoke of the rewards of following Him. Just for starters, "whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." That, my friend, is, "better and lasting possessions. So don't throw away your confidence; it shall be richly rewarded."
Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me ever mindful of this text. Amen.
******************
www.apf327.blogspot.com
The Amplified Bible says of this last phrase, "it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward." In short, our text seems to be saying, "You've been through too much to give up now."
The reason people have endure public, "insult and persecution," and, "stood side by side with those who were so treated," and, "suffered along with those in prison," is that they know they have, "better and lasting possessions," literally, "goods." Not only is what and Whom we have in Jesus Christ now, here, in this life, "better," in Jesus Christ we have, "lasting possessions;" they are of the Eternal. If you and I live as Jesus called us to live, "If any man serves Me, let him follow me; and where I am, there My servant will be also-------It will be richly rewarded."
Again, most of Christendom today does not speak of such things. Modern religionists believe it is too "retro" to speak of Heaven, the rewards of the Believer in Jesus Christ. Yet the Bible is full of such references, and while walking The Land in the first century, Jesus spoke of the rewards of following Him. Just for starters, "whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." That, my friend, is, "better and lasting possessions. So don't throw away your confidence; it shall be richly rewarded."
Father, in Jesus' Name, keep me ever mindful of this text. Amen.
******************
www.apf327.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
