Today’s scripture: Hebrews 10:32-36 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts on this passage (Tyler Connoley):
As verse 32 makes clear, the author of Hebrews is talking to people who have suffered great persecution. Those who haven’t been abused and persecuted are friends of people who were. I’m reminded of my mother’s description of Cambodia: “There is no one here,” she said, “who can’t tell a tragic story of seeing a family member beaten or murdered.” And yet, Mom found the people in Cambodia incredibly happy and friendly, quick to smile and quick to love.
The people in Hebrews 10 and the friends my mother made in Cambodia are proof that what’s inside is what matters. The author of Hebrews promises that our confidence will result in a great reward. This isn’t a pie-in-the-sky reward, but the peace, love, and grace that pass all understanding, and which are the rewards of those who follow God.
The author says his readers were able to endure “the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting.” They held, inside themselves, the Spirit of God and the enlightenment God brings, even in the toughest circumstances. They knew that what was in them was greater than what was in the world.
Thought for the day: Have you allowed the circumstances of life to take away your smile and your love? Reclaim them as your birthright, as a child of God.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to start, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.