Bible League: Living His Word We must hold on to the hope we have, never hesitating to tell people about it. We can trust God to do what he promised.The Epistle to the Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians that lived in Jerusalem. Its primary purpose was to exhort those Christians to persevere despite the persecutions they had to face. Although they had not yet come to the point where they had to give up their lives for the cause of Christ, they were struggling (Hebrews 12:4). Despite their difficult circumstances, our verse for today exhorts them to do three things. The three things still speak to every Christian. First of all, "We must hold on to the hope we have." Hebrews 3:14 says, "We have the honor of sharing in all that Christ has if we continue until the end to have the sure faith we had in the beginning." In other words, we should confirm our election and calling by God by continuing to believe in Jesus Christ and the gospel message until the end. At the very end of our lives, we should be able to say with the Apostle Paul, "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have served the Lord faithfully" (II Timothy 4:7). Secondly, we must never hesitate "to tell people about it." Since we have such a great and comforting hope, we should tell others about the good thing we have. Like Paul, we should speak boldly and openly about it (II Corinthians 3:12). We should do our part to fulfill Jesus' prophecy: "You will be my witnesses. You will tell people everywhere about me--in Jerusalem, in the rest of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world" (Acts 1:8). If we have true hope in Christ, we should not keep it to ourselves. Finally, "We can trust God to do what he promised." Our hope is in Jesus Christ and the gospel message. Our hope is that we have been saved by faith in Him and that we will spend eternity with Him. Our hope is that we will escape the punishment of those who do not hope in Christ. We can trust God to fulfill our hope. We should hold on to our hope and tell other people about it, because God is reliable, because God will come through. Hope is the most precious thing we have. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingEzekiel 41, 42 Ezekiel 41 -- The Measures, Parts, Chambers, and Ornaments of the Inner Temple NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Ezekiel 42 -- Chambers for the Priests NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 2 Peter 1 2 Peter 1 -- By Faith and Works, Make Your Calling Sure; Eyewitness of the Apostles and Prophets NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Because God's children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.Insight Christ's death and resurrection set us free from the fear of death because death has been defeated. Every person must die, but death is not the end; instead, it is the doorway to a new life. All who dread death should have the opportunity to know the hope that Christ's victory brings. Challenge How can you share this truth with those close to you? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Leviticus 19:16, 17 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people ... Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.Tale-bearing emits a threefold poison; for it injures the teller, the hearer, and the person concerning whom the tale is told. Whether the report be true or false, we are by this precept of God's Word forbidden to spread it. The reputations of the Lord's people should be very precious in our sight, and we should count it shame to help the devil to dishonor the Church and the name of the Lord. Some tongues need a bridle rather than a spur. Many glory in pulling down their brethren, as if thereby they raised themselves. Noah's wise sons cast a mantle over their father, and he who exposed him earned a fearful curse. We may ourselves one of these dark days need forbearance and silence from our brethren, let us render it cheerfully to those who require it now. Be this our family rule, and our personal bond--Speak evil of no man. The Holy Spirit, however, permits us to censure sin, and prescribes the way in which we are to do it. It must be done by rebuking our brother to his face, not by railing behind his back. This course is manly, brotherly, Christlike, and under God's blessing will be useful. Does the flesh shrink from it? Then we must lay the greater stress upon our conscience, and keep ourselves to the work, lest by suffering sin upon our friend we become ourselves partakers of it. Hundreds have been saved from gross sins by the timely, wise, affectionate warnings of faithful ministers and brethren. Our Lord Jesus has set us a gracious example of how to deal with erring friends in his warning given to Peter, the prayer with which he preceded it, and the gentle way in which he bore with Peter's boastful denial that he needed such a caution. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 65:4 How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You To dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.Psalm 27:4 One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple. Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Luke 1:53 "HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. Psalm 107:9 For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good. John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. Psalm 36:7-9 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. • They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. • For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. • O continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. 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