“So we can confidently say …”

How many can speak with confidence these days? Certainly the politicians can’t, although they often try to sound that way! We read the last chapter of Hebrews today and Paul is emphasising to them the need to be positive in their attitude to the spiritual aspects of life. His first 4 words are, “Let brotherly love continue”. That surely includes sisterly love too! It means love in a practical sense, not just words. John wrote, “let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth”, (1 John 3:18). There is a saying, ‘actions speak louder than words’.

Paul then says, “Remember those who are in prison, as those who are in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body [of Christ]” (verse 3). As this world falls apart and becomes more dysfunctional these words will have more frequent application. Just a week ago, robbers with guns broke into a home where brethren hold their meetings and some lived and, as well as stealing money and valuables, sprayed bullets around, injuring a father and 3 sons, one seriously. Other members rallied around to help, giving their blood for transfusions.

This happened in Pakistan, but the potential for similar incidents to happen in more and more countries is increasing with financial woes spreading and some countries (e.g., Spain) having half their young people unemployed. Now let’s look at verses 5,6 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” Where did he say this? Those words are from the prophet Haggai, giving a message to those living in difficult circumstances; we will read his message in a couple of weeks. Those who only read the New Testament are missing much powerful encouragement from their God.

Today’s chapter in Micah is a good example; it starts, “It shall come to pass in the latter days … nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (4:1,5). This is a description of God’s kingdom when it is fully functioning; those alive then will say, “Come let us go up to the mountain of the LORD … that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths” (verse 2).

Let us live today – and every day – so that we can, by faith, confidently say – we will be there.