YOU SPEAK AS OUR LORD DESIRES And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns surround you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their presence, though they are a rebellious house. But speak My words to them, whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are rebellious. —Ezekiel 2:5-7 And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the…

OUR LORD’S LOVE IS UNWAVERING! But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. —Lamentations 3:21-26             Remember… recall and have hope that “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is…

SAFE AND SECURE IN THE MIDST OF DIFFICULTY Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. —Hebrews 7:25-27             We are safe and secure in Jesus, regardless of what comes our way.  Jesus “always…

 EVIDENCE OF SALVATION For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show…

INDICATORS OF MATURITY For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.—Hebrews 5:12-14                Who are the mature in Christ?  According to the passage above, some of what distinguishes a person who is mature in Jesus are— Using their time wisely Teachers of God’s Word in some…

HE KNOWS YOU— HE FORGIVES! For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every…

FLEE THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” —Hebrews 3:13             As followers of Jesus, we need each other and need to look out for one another.  Sin is deceitful and one can be hardened by it.  This is why we are to encourage each other regularly so we do not get drawn into sin and stay there.  Unconfessed sin will harden a person’s heart against the Lord and as followers of Jesus we surely do not want to go in that direction.             So, do you have…

FEAR NOT DEATH! But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. —Hebrews 2:9 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. —Hebrews 2:14-15             Death brings tears, sadness and sorrow.  Oh, how many tears, how much sadness…

I’M PART OF THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM! But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.  You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”  He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.  They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.  You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. …

HOLD TO AND SHARE THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES When they heard all the words, they turned one to another in fear. And they said to Baruch, “We must report all these words to the king. —Jeremiah 36:16 It was the ninth month, and the king was sitting in the winter house, and there was a fire burning in the fire pot before him. As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot. Yet neither the king…