2 minute read.
Daily Reading: Ezekiel 29:1-30:26 ESV, Hebrews 11:32-12:13 ESV, Psalm 112:1-10 ESV, Proverbs 27:17 ESV
Daily Verse: “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,” (Hebrews 11:39 ESV)
EPAGGELIA (1860): “As a noun, is primarily a law term, denoting “a summons” and also meant “an undertaking to do or give something, a promise.” It frequently stands for the thing “promised,” and so signifies a gift graciously bestowed, not a pledge secured by negotiation.”[1]
Give something.
Chapter eleven in Hebrews has a nickname, the “Faith” chapter. Reviewing the list of heroes in the faith, and the steps they took that landed them in the Hall of Fame for their beliefs, warranted the name. Each persevered, not knowing what the future held but trusting God’s promise of a better life.
God’s Hall of Famers trusted that God would give them something for their toils and troubles. At the end of their journey’s waited paradise with the Lord.
God’s presence.
Repeatedly, God promises never to leave nor forsake us. Yet when we become stagnant, unable to move forward because of anxiety about things that could happen, we negate His promise.
Reading “The Cuckoo Syndrome,” Andrea Polk brought to light a good point. Worst-case scenario thinking excludes God. In other words, when we fret about things to come, we don’t think of God’s participation in helping us endure.
Walking boldly forward means trusting God walks with you, no matter what mountain you face. Abraham trusted God to make him the father of nations, Rahab thrived as an adopted member of God’s family, and Moses marched onward, ever faithful to the Lord.
Wherever God takes you, He goes with you. Whether in the pit or on the mountaintop, nothing separates you from Jesus once you place your faith in Him. Begin embracing the journey, anticipating what God will do for you and in you as you continue forward.
God promises to give us eternal life if we place our faith in Christ. Receiving the gift cost us nothing and the Lord everything. Living intentionally for Jesus means trusting the promises God makes and acting accordingly.
Stand firm on God’s promises, apply them to your life, and experience the eternal peace you can find no other way.
[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 93) Thomas Nelson
