What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Panic? Hide in the closet? Run for the exit? Go to bed for the day? The writer of the book of Hebrews, in the Bible, has a great suggestion. Hebrews 10:23, 24 in “The Message Bible” puts it this way: “Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on ….”
Of course, those words, “He always keeps his word” is talking about God, who authored those promises in the Bible that we need to keep a firm grip on. I recommend keeping a list specific promises from God that apply to you, in your situation. Read them out loud to yourself when you get up in the morning, whenever you can during the day, and when you get in bed at night. Pray them back to God in the first person, telling God you fully expect Him to keep His promise, and thanking Him for doing it. (Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”)
And here’s the back story on that, (the context). The verses before this, verses 19-22, tell us that we can walk boldly into the throne room of almighty God, in full assurance, because we have a Great High Priest, Jesus, who is there pleading our case for us. He gave His own blood and body on the cross so that all our sins are purged and our conscience is clear. In Christ we stand before God completely righteous. Jesus became sin for us, so we could become the righteousness of God in Christ (II Cor. 5:21). That is a position of power and confidence.
And the second part of that Hebrews 10:23, 24 quote we started with takes this in a whole new direction. “Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on ….”. The message is that, (1) we hang on to God’s promises, and (2) we reach out and help someone else. Who can you reach out to today to encourage and love, and then encourage them to do the same?
Start a glorious chain reaction of love and encouragement today while you hang on to God’s promises.
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