A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.
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to this ministry"The Tight Grip"
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23).
I am an avid football fan and I sure enjoyed the games this weekend although my favored team did not win in each playoff game. I realize that using a football illustration may not be effective since many readers likely do not enjoy football and in the case of international readers many may be unfamiliar with the game. Of course American football is quite different than what is called football in many other countries, which we call soccer here in the states. In our football we extensively use the hands.
In football a critically important and fundamental skill is keeping a tight grip on the ball. This weekend there were some critical plays regarding fumbles. That's when the player loses his grip and the ball is dropped. The uncharacteristic fumble of Jerome Bettis in the final moments of the game yesterday almost changed the course of the entire game.
In life there are many ways in which it is imperative to have a tight grip such as our commitment to our marriage, our family and our integrity.
But the greatest way we need a tight grip is expressed in our daily text. "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess." Other versions state "Let us hold fast without wavering" and "Without wavering, let us hold tightly."
The text begins with the words "Let us" which is known as the hortatory subjunctive. This is my favorite preaching and writing style whether I am the listener and reader or whether I am the preacher or writer. I once preached a sermon from Hebrews repeatedly using the phrase "Let us" and a listener commented later that it was a salad sermon (lettuce)!
The author of Hebrews uses this phrase twelve times. When I read this book or hear sermons preached using this phrase (also known technically as the cohortatory) I am encouraged, as it seems the author or preacher is leading me, not pushing me. The writer was facing the same circumstances as his readers so he presents a form of personal resolve in his writing.
As I do a verse by verse study of Hebrews I find that this is the key text in the entire book. This call is to the earliest believers who were the initial recipients of this Scripture and to all others through the ages of the Church, including us today. We are to "hold unswervingly to the hope we profess." Of course primarily this hope is the hope we have in Christ.
And this hope is absolutely secure, "for He who promised is faithful." Rest in that wonderful assurance today and join me in holding unswervingly to this hope!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
Brooksyne's Prayer: Jesus, in this ever-changing society where transition is always beckoning, You are the Changeless One. Though new philosophies and fads will debut or rebound this new year You are the same yesterday, today and forever. As we hold tightly to the hope we have in You we will not be pulled to the right or to the left. You will keep us on course as You faithfully go before us instructing, inspiring and igniting our spiritual walk.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.
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