Daily Scripture: Hebrews 11: 33 who, through trusting, conquered kingdoms, worked righteousness, received what was promised, shut the mouths of lions,[a] 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, had their weakness turned to strength, grew mighty in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead resurrected; other people were stretched on the rack and beaten to death, refusing to be ransomed, so that they would gain a better resurrection. 36 Others underwent the trials of being mocked and whipped, then chained and imprisoned. 37 They were stoned, sawed in two, murdered by the sword; they went about clothed in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, mistreated, 38 wandering about in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground! The world was not worthy of them!
Hebrews listed many examples of faith, some with beautiful outcomes and some who met terrible earthly fates. Author Frederick Buechner wrote that God’s grace means, “Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us.” God was with all the faithful. Their ultimate reward was in “a better country…a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16).
Lord Jesus, when everything goes well, it’s easy for me to forget that I need you with me. When things go badly, it’s easy for me to think you’ve abandoned me. Thank you for being with me in both the light and dark days of my life. Amen.
5.5.15 Insights from Nicole Alison
Nicole Alison serves as Coordinating Assistant to Operations at The Church of the Resurrection. Nicole finds her voice through writing. In her spare time she is a personal blogger and ghost-writer for the Next Steps Pastor at a local church in Lenexa. Her passion is to share the love of Jesus through personal stories of redemption.
I remember when I finally invested my all into Jesus. I was reading the Bible diligently, soaking in the truth. And I was waiting. My perception was that if I obeyed and invested in Jesus, I would have an abundance of blessing. My pains would fade away, broken relationships would be redeemed, and life’s struggles would be made right.
But as the days went by, I began to feel defeated. My life wasn’t uprooted and changed. I felt as though I was investing in promises that would not come to fruition. I still had the same aches and pains, even though I was pouring myself into relationship with God. I thought everything would change once I dove in. But I was still facing the same battles, and I started to feel utterly alone. I began to wonder if God even noticed me.
I had a choice to either keep pressing on in my faith or go back to mediocre, surface level believing. I decided that I wanted to know the fullness of God, so I clung to the promises–He has good things for me. It wasn’t until I was at the end of myself that I really began to know Jesus. It wasn’t until I stopped making an idol of my pain and anticipation of blessing that I experienced the beauty of the Great “I Am.” Instead of holding my breath in expectancy, I began to breathe. I stopped having beliefs of what I thought God should do, and by doing that it gave Him room to work in me.
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39 All of these had their merit attested because of their trusting. Nevertheless, they did not receive what had been promised, 40 because God had planned something better that would involve us, so that only with us would they be brought to the goal.
12:1 So then, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us, too, put aside every impediment — that is, the sin which easily hampers our forward movement — and keep running with endurance in the contest set before us, 2 looking away to the Initiator and Completer of that trusting,[b] Yeshua — who, in exchange for obtaining the joy set before him, endured execution on a stake as a criminal, scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.[c][Footnotes:
Hebrews 11:33 Daniel 6:23(22)
Hebrews 12:2 Habakkuk 2:4
Hebrews 12:2 Psalm 110:1]
Reflection Questions:Hebrews listed many examples of faith, some with beautiful outcomes and some who met terrible earthly fates. Author Frederick Buechner wrote that God’s grace means, “Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us.” God was with all the faithful. Their ultimate reward was in “a better country…a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16).
- At times, said Hebrews 11:39-40, we don’t see God’s promises realized in this life at all, but wait for eternity. That can be very hard. When have you had to wait longer than you wished for a divine promise to come true? Are there promises you are still waiting for? What helps you to hold onto faith and trust as you wait?
- Hebrews called us, as we live our lives, to “fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter.” What ways have you found of “fixing your eyes on Jesus” in the course of your regular, everyday life? What is one practice you could adopt that you believe would help you to “fix your eyes on Jesus” every day, in every situation?
Lord Jesus, when everything goes well, it’s easy for me to forget that I need you with me. When things go badly, it’s easy for me to think you’ve abandoned me. Thank you for being with me in both the light and dark days of my life. Amen.
5.5.15 Insights from Nicole Alison
Nicole Alison serves as Coordinating Assistant to Operations at The Church of the Resurrection. Nicole finds her voice through writing. In her spare time she is a personal blogger and ghost-writer for the Next Steps Pastor at a local church in Lenexa. Her passion is to share the love of Jesus through personal stories of redemption.I remember when I finally invested my all into Jesus. I was reading the Bible diligently, soaking in the truth. And I was waiting. My perception was that if I obeyed and invested in Jesus, I would have an abundance of blessing. My pains would fade away, broken relationships would be redeemed, and life’s struggles would be made right.
But as the days went by, I began to feel defeated. My life wasn’t uprooted and changed. I felt as though I was investing in promises that would not come to fruition. I still had the same aches and pains, even though I was pouring myself into relationship with God. I thought everything would change once I dove in. But I was still facing the same battles, and I started to feel utterly alone. I began to wonder if God even noticed me.
I had a choice to either keep pressing on in my faith or go back to mediocre, surface level believing. I decided that I wanted to know the fullness of God, so I clung to the promises–He has good things for me. It wasn’t until I was at the end of myself that I really began to know Jesus. It wasn’t until I stopped making an idol of my pain and anticipation of blessing that I experienced the beauty of the Great “I Am.” Instead of holding my breath in expectancy, I began to breathe. I stopped having beliefs of what I thought God should do, and by doing that it gave Him room to work in me.
I began to lay down what I desired and hoped for, and God refined me. He developed my character, He changed my perspective, and made me a greater witness. As I look back now I can see how God redeemed hurts and blessed me in ways I never expected. There are still unanswered prayers, there are still things I long to be transformed, but I am learning to give the reins to God. One thing that we don’t ever have to wait on is knowing that God loves us and He is always with us. I’m learning to trust in Him for who He is, that He knows all, and He has the best in store.
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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