"Let your conduct be without coveteousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5)
Think of it. "[Jesus] Himself has said," to you and me, 'I will never leave...nor forsake you.'" May the Holy Spirit ever keep this powerful covenantal promise before us. These Words of Jesus will keep us throughout our sojourn. I wonder how many times, however, the latter part of this verse is quoted "out of context." This happens far too often to many of us, and as a result, we miss the powerful message.
All of us revel in, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Yet the context reveals just how very specific is this promise. The context reveals our tendency to place too much emphasis on money, you know, pay checks, social security, investments, just how much is our house worth if we have to sell, etc. The Interlinear says, "Be satisfied with the present manner of life." Are you? Am I? What is it in our life which keeps us from, "content/satisfied"? That can be as big an enemy as, "principalities and powers."
In our text, our Lord Jesus commands us to be "satisfied with the present manner of life, and, I can add, These Words are, as Jesus said to humanity millennia ago, "for our good." It is indeed, "easier said than done," but that is only if we are living, "in the flesh," and not, "in the Spirit." Walking life's journey with our, "....eyes fixed on Jesus," which is synonymous with reading, believing, and obeying His Words, will find us with contentment an "obtainable" virtue.
No one knows what the future is for the economy of our respective nations, or the global economy; there was 1929 and 2008. Many Followers of Jesus lost huge amounts of that which, "satisfied," them and gave them some sort of, "content." I in no way minimize any suffering which those "melt downs" caused. Yet the promise is in today's text that no matter the severity of the "crisis" around us, "I will (literally) positively never, no, never leave you nor forsake you."
Father, in Jesus' Name, You have so faithfully fulfilled these Words to me so very many times. Thank You. Amen.
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.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
