Hold On Tight

Scripture

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

~Hebrews 10:23, NLT

Quote

Tenacity is the ability to hold on when letting go is easier and much more attractive.

~Ya’akov

I love Hebrews chapter ten; especially verses 19-25. The future reality foreshadowed in the Old Covenant was fulfilled to the fullest extent in Christ. In the Old Testament, the high priest went into the most holy place one time a year and never without blood–the blood of sheep, goats or bulls– but it was impossible for the blood of animals to take away our sins. Jesus voluntarily came into this world to become the One sacrifice that would cleanse us of all our sin. By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy {Hebrews 10:14, NIV}.

Note the differences in tenses: By the sacrifice of Christ, we have been made perfect [past tense–already happened] but we are being made holy [presence tense] day by day. Our regeneration makes us perfect in God’s sight but we are not yet perfect in each other’s sight. Understanding this truth:

1. Let us draw near to God with a truthful heart and full assurance knowing that Jesus has cleansed us of all sin. {v.22}
2. Let us hold tightly [firmly] to the HOPE we profess, for He who promised is faithful. God can be trusted to keep His promise. {v.23}
3. Let us think [consider] of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.{v.24}
4. Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. {v.25} NLT

In a nutshell, let us pray, believe, motivate and encourage. The first two are personal: praying and believing. The second two are social: motivating and encouraging others.

• Our Hope…Day one was very rough due to physical problems. Hope is not well physically. Her stomach was bothering her on Monday and she is not eating. They did not make her work yesterday which is a good thing and I think she may get checked out by the clinic next door. At present, Hope does not have the stamina to do this program but we are hoping that she will get stronger. We desperately need your prayers.
• VBS has been changed from June 6-10 to June 13-17. Commencement Picnic on June 19 {Sunday Night}. Pray for Holly, she has the three year olds and there are about 17 of them and most of them are pistols with Chloe at the head of the pack. If we got a perfect teacher/student ratio for this class, we would need 34 workers.
• For those attending the PRAYER RALLY: we are going to leave the church parking lot at 9:00 am and stop in Prattville for Brunch. Joe David has to be home by 4:00 and I want him to drive.

NEW YORK – JUNE 25: Franklin Graham, with Bible in hand, addresses the crowd before his father Billy Graham speaks during his Crusade at Flushing Meadows Corona Park June 25, 2005 in the Queens borough of New York. Flushing Meadows Corona Park is the site for Graham’s sermons on June 24-26, which looks to draw thousands of people from across the country, and will purportedly be the aging Christian evangelist’s final crusade. (Photo by Stephen Chernin/Getty Images)