The Jesus Bible Reading Plan / PERSEVERANCE

The Jesus Bible Reading Plan

Day 270 of 365 PERSEVERANCE Newton's third law states that "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." When an object is pushed, there will always be movement of some sort. In a similar way, the Christian life is full of pressures that God allows to happen in order to push his people into deeper dependence on him. One of the reasons that God gave his church the book of Hebrews is to encourage his people to endure in the midst of persecution. The Christian life will have moments, perhaps even seasons, of opposition. This should not surprise followers of Christ. Jesus himself even warned his disciples that they would experience hardships (Mt 24:9 - 10). Yet, this warning is followed by an encouragement: some people will continue to believe, all people will have an opportunity to believe and Jesus will come back to save his people (Mt 24:11 - 14). The author of Hebrews twice told his audience to hang on and endure, and in between those exhortations he highlights Jesus as the hope for people who are in the midst of difficult situations. When the pressure increases, Christians are encouraged to remember those who endured faithfully. Among those who lived lives worthy of imitation, Jesus is the greatest example. Jesus won victory through suffering and lives to give strength in every moment. Jesus, I pray for those brothers and sisters who are being persecuted for your sake right now. I ask you to wrap your loving arms around them and fill them with your supernatural peace. Amen. Hebrews 10:35-39 NASB 35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 37 F or yet in a very little while , H e who is coming will come , and will not delay . 38 B ut M y righteous one shall live by faith ; A nd if he shrinks back , M y soul has no pleasure in him . 39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. Matthew 24:9-14 NASB 9 "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.  10 At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.  11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.  12Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.  13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.  14This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.