Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
From: The Life Application Study Bible
32“Do not ever forget those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. 33 Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. 34 You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail. When all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew you had better things waiting for you in eternity.” ~ Hebrews 10:32-34
These verses encourage believers to persevere in our Christian faith and conduct when facing persecution and pressure. We do not usually think of suffering as being good for us, but it can build our character and our patience. During times of great stress, we may feel GOD’s presence more clearly and find help from Christians we never thought would care. Knowing that Jesus is with us in our suffering and that He will return one day to put an end to all pain helps us grow in our faith and our relationship with Him. – 3 “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure. 4 And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. 5 And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly GOD loves us, because HE has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with HIS love.” – Romans 5:3-5 – Paul is telling us here, that in the future we will become, but until then we must overcome. This means that we will experience difficulties that help us grow. We rejoice in suffering, not because we like pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know GOD is using life’s difficulties and Satan’s attacks to build our character. The problems that we encounter will develop our perseverance – which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in GOD, and give us greater confidence about the future.
YOU, Father GOD, love us so much that YOU sent YOUR Son to bridge the gap between us. – “For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only Son, so that everyone who believes in HIM will not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 – The Father and the Son send the Holy Spirit to fill our life with love and to enable us to live by HIS power. – “But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about ME everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8 – The power from the Holy Spirit is not limited to strength beyond the ordinary. That power also involves courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority. The disciples would need all these gifts to fulfill their mission, as do we to fulfill ours. If we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior, we can experience the power of the Holy Spirit in our life.
Thank YOU, Father, that we can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, because we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us, for we know how dearly YOU love us, because YOU have given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with YOUR love – now we can have greater confidence about our future. Thank YOU for giving us YOUR Son to fill our life with love and to enable us to live by YOUR power. That same power gives us courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority. Thank YOU for allowing us to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
