#DailyDevotion Endure Loss & Shame Because Your Reward Is Permanent

Heb. 10 ³²Remember those early days, how after you received the light you patiently endured a hard and painful struggle. ³³Mocked and mistreated, you were made a public show, or you shared the life of those who were treated that way. ³⁴You sympathized with the prisoners, and when you were robbed of your property, you took it cheerfully because you knew you have something better that is permanent. ³⁵Then don’t lose your courage. There’s a great reward for it. ³⁶You need endurance to do what God wants and so to receive what He promised. ³⁷“Soon, very soon, He Who is coming will come and will not delay, ³⁸and by faith My righteous one will live. If he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” ³⁹Now, we’re not those who shrink back and so are lost, but we have faith and so are saved.

Most likely, the author is thinking of the mistreatment these early Christians received under the hand of their fellow Jews. We can see this in the early chapters of Acts, particularly under the hand of Saul, who becomes the Apostle Paul. It didn’t quit after Paul’s conversion as we can see their treatment of him everywhere he went in the empire. This however, does not call us to retaliate against them or anyone else who mistreated us or mistreats us.



We, like them, are called to patiently endure hard and painful struggles because of our faith in Jesus Christ. They were made a public show and we may be made a public show, especially on social media. Like them, if we don’t suffer like this we may share the life of those mistreated. They were the sheep of Matt. 25 who sympathized with prisoners who were imprisoned for the faith, mostly being pastors. They were robbed of property and took the abuse cheerfully. They could endure these things cheerfully because they had something better that is permanent. We western Christians should take notice. It is highly likely we or our children and grandchildren will be called to endure like them in the near future. Is our cheerful endurance going to attract people to the faith like our faithful ancestors or are we going to lash out and defile our testimony? Do we believe we have something better and permanent than our reputation, self-esteem or worldly goods? These words are setting up chapter 11 of Hebrews.

So listen up. Don’t lose courage. The author promises a great reward for it. If you want what God promised you’ll need endurance, especially in the face of persecution. That reward is eternal life, the resurrection of the body, a new heavens and new earth, seeing God and if that is not enough, even more. God is coming soon and His reward is with Him for those who endured faithfully. He is not delaying. He is not slow as some count slowness. He is merciful waiting for men to repent.

Meanwhile, we live by faith. Of course we receive newness of life by faith. However, we are called to live our daily lives by faith in the promises of Christ Jesus. We are called to live out the daily grind, trusting in Jesus’ promise of eternal life and life with Him. You and I are not to hold on tightly to the things of this world, which is passing away. Nothing in this life is permanent. It won’t make it through the fires of judgment. What we hope for gives us the strength to endure because what we hope for doesn’t rust, moths can’t eat it, the fires of judgment only purify it, and no one can steal it. If we shrink back and lose our faith, God will not be pleased with us and we will be like the seed cast among the rocks and the thorns. We, you, are not like those people. You will not shrink back. You will live by faith and will be saved on the Last Day receiving your reward from the hand of our Savior Jesus Christ.



Gracious Father, grant us faith in Your promises that we don’t shrink back from our faith in the face of persecution but we endure all things until Your appearing. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.