Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28


WHERE IS MY FOCUS?

READ:
Hebrews 10:34
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You suffered...,
because you
knew that you
yourselves had
better and lasting
possessions.
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Early in September 2011, a raging wildfire destroyed 600 homes in and around the city of Bastrop in central Texas. A few weeks later an article in the Austin American-statesman newspaper carried this headline: "People who lost the most, focus on what wasn't lost." The article described the community's outpouring of generosity and the realization of those who received help that neighbors, friends, and community were worth far more than anything they lost.

The writer of Hebrews reminded first-century followers of Jesus to recall how they had bravely endured persecution early in their life of faith. They stood their ground in the face of insults and oppression, standing side by side with other believers (HEB. 10:323). "You suffered along with those imprison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions" (v.34). Their focus was not on what they had lost but on eternal things that could not be taken from them.

Jesus told His followers, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (MATT. 6:21). As we focus on the Lord and all that we have in Him, even our most precious possessions can be held lightly. ________David McCasland
**Lord, open our eyes to see You and to embrace what is
most important each day.
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Where is your focus today?

******************************Today's Bible Reading __ Hebrews 10:32-39********************************
32 Remember those earlier days after you had received
the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of
suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to
insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by
side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with
those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your
property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and
lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence;
it will be richly rewarded.

36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will
of God, you will receive what He has promised. 37 For,
"In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will
not delay.


38 And,
"But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no
pleasure in the one who shrink back ."

39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are
destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
The letter to the Hebrews has one dominant
theme__the superiority of Christ over everything. This theme is
developed as he is described as the ultimate revelation the Father
has given of Himself (1:1-3). He is superior to the angels (1:4-14) and He
is superior to Moses (3:1-16). Jesus is also portrayed as giving a better
rest (ch. 4) and serving as a better high priest (4:4-15). Christ came to
be the superior, once-for-all sacrifice for our sin (9:11-10:18). This was
an important reminder for the Jewish recipients of this letter, who
were apparently in danger of drifting away from the truth of the
sufficiency of Christ. ____Bill Crowder