Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 13:6, NKJV- “So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
How confident are you that the LORD is helping you? As a recovering people pleaser, Hebrews 13:6 is encouraging me to be bold in God. Hebrews 13:5 also reminds us not to want what others have nor try to be who others want. “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” “(NKJV).
We can be content where we are and in having what we have. God is calling us to go where we must go, regardless of our human fears. Hebrews 13:1 instructs us to “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.” (NIV) Being a child of the 1960’s I can still see the drawings of R. Crumb’s “Keep on Truckin.’” I recall having the t-shirt. This motto resonated with a positive attitude, optimism, and continual movement.
The book of Hebrews was expressing this nineteen hundred years prior. Keep moving forward with love and hospitality and we will be surprised at the angels God will put along our paths. When we live with empathy as Hebrews 13:3 instructs us, “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” (NIV)
We are to act compassionately and confidently. Although we are instructed in Hebrews to imitate the faith of those who have taught us, we must be careful to imitate God and Jesus and not humans. We must be bold and confident because Hebrews 13:8 promises that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (NKJV)
Hebrews 13:9 warns us “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so.” (NIV) Is what we are doing in our lives benefiting God and leading others to Jesus?
God is our helper; He has brought specific leaders and mentors into our lives who can help us stay away from strange teachings. I have also found that when we lay our lives upon the alter of Jesus Christ, our “ministries” may be outside the church. Hebrews 13:11-13 details how Jesus was outside the tabernacle of Judaism. The church did not understand Jesus.
I have often felt misunderstood because of my experiences with the strange practice of “positive affirmations.” I found that selfish affirmations were empty promises, yet God took my experiences and turned them into affirmations of the promises of God and not our personal promise.
We praise God by living for Him. As Hebrews 13:16 instructs us “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (NIV) Are you doing good and sharing Jesus with others? If so, be bold and confident that you are doing what pleases God.
We must pray for each other to do as God would have us do so that we have a clear conscience and live to honor God in every way. We must be confident that Jesus has equipped us to do His will so that we please and bring glory to Him forever.
We are called to be bold in the LORD. Will we be confident even when we are outside? LORD please bring the leaders You intend to guide us to Jesus in light of Your calling on our lives.
Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am giving You my life and my testimony to glorify and please only You. Thank You for the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Guard our hearts LORD from the strange practices we humans can conduct. Draw our hearts to You and use us as You created and have shaped us to be. Thank You for our leaders who help to guide us. For You LORD I am following Jesus with boldness and confidence. Amen.
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